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Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Robert Hunt, from the Photographic Experiments of Sir John Herschel, 1839

Inventory Number: 17533
Object Type:
Persons: Robert Hunt (Photographer)
Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Owner)
Date Created:
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing by Robert Hunt, undated but 1839. It is a direct-positive contact copy of an engraving, showing landscape with trees in foreground and to left, mountains in distance. The yellow colour is typical of Hunt's process and results from his use of iodides. Given to Herschel by Hunt as a specimen of his experiments and of the direct-positive photogenic drawing process he invented and (briefly) marketed.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: 'Washed with Ammon Mur | Bleached by Bar. Hydriod.' [in Robert Hunt's hand].
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
87 130 mm

Narratives

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