Yesterday was presented at the Hotel Palacio de Guendulain the book "Fotografía navarra. La colección del marqués de la Real Defensa", whose author is Ignacio Miguéliz, professor of Art History at the University of Navarre. School of Philosophy and Lettersand member of the Chair of Heritage and Navarrese Art of the University of Navarra.

In the introduction to the event Ricardo Fernández Graciadirector from the Chair, thanked don Joaquín Ignacio MencosThe Marquis of the Royal Defense, who with the publication of this book, "wanted to put the photographic heritage of his family at the service of society". In turn, the Marquis expressed his gratitude "for the interest shown by the Chair and the work of Professor Miguéliz who has spent two years researching, analyzing and classifying the family's photographic file ".

To the collection of photographs begun in 1915 by Don Tiburcio Mencos, was added also that of Doña Isabel Doussinague Brunet, parents of the present Marquis. The file covers not only Navarre, but also Spain, Europe, Africa and America.

The book presented yesterday gathers only photographs of Navarra, of eleven Navarre authors, and are classified into five different themes: portraits, private photographs, public photographs, urban views and monuments, and photographs of the Sanfermin fiestas.

Professor Miguéliz showed the content of each of these thematic blocks and, throughout his exhibition, the large audience was able to learn not only the history of photography itself, but also how it reflects the customs and habits of the time, which evolved over the years. From the portrait as finding of the image itself -at a time when mirrors were scarce- to the influence of cinema in the taking of these images and to try out the snapshot.

The book "Fotografía navarra. The collection of the Marquis de la Real Defensa" is a non-commercial edition. It can be download in pdf through the website of the Palace of the Mencos.