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Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, 1839

Inventory Number: 12652
Object Type:
Persons: Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Photographer)
Date Created:
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing by Sir John Herschel, undated but 1839, made as a fixing experiment. Seemingly a companion of the very differently coloured 22115, made on February 16 and fixed with hypo.

Subject: engraving, sailing ships and smaller yacht
Technique: contact copy
Format: horizontal
Polarity: negative
Orientation: laterally reversed
Quality: poor
Colour: pale purple, strong only at middle, sepia border
Chemistry: silver based (the 'N' squiggle may indicate nitrate), fixed with pure or distilled water
Coating: none
Inscription: chemical note
Paper: thin, larger than usual
Condition: good
Purpose: a fixing experiment using pure or distilled water.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'Aqua pura' [in Herschel's hand]. 'N' squiggle on front.
Provenance: Presented by Miss Herschel and Lady Lubbock in 1928. They were the two surviving and youngest children of Sir John Herschel (Francisca and Constance).
Collection Group: Herschel's Photographic Experiments
Material(s): Paper
Dimensions:
Height Width Depth Diameter Unit
111 154 mm

Narratives

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