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Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing, Cyanotype), by Sir John Herschel, c.1842

Inventory Number: 29196
Object Type:
Persons: Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Photographer)
Date Created:
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing (cyanotype) by Sir John Herschel, undated, c.1842. Narrow border. The positive cyanotypes that are not direct positives were probably made from a conventional silver-based, hypo-fixed negative (such as 23691). This was one of the Herschel experimental photographs extracted from the collection for display in the Museum (hence R. T. Gunther's inscription; the other one displayed was the oak leaf 60339). Compare 58467 (a companion and also displayed, but with very strong colour), and 87789 (similarly pale but has not been displayed).

Subject: engraving 28374, lady with guitar
Technique: contact copy (print) from a negative
Format: vertical
Polarity: positive
Orientation: correct
Quality: faint
Colour: very pale greenish blue, nearly clean highlights and border, small brown stain
Chemistry: cyanotype
Coating: none
Inscription: none
Paper: normal, thinnish
Condition: good, faded (see above)
Purpose: a cyanotype positive printing experiment.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
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
120 95 mm

Narratives

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