Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by Sir John Herschel, February 17, 1839 | |||||||||||
Inventory Number: | 42550 | ||||||||||
Object Type: | | ||||||||||
Persons: |
Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Photographer) | ||||||||||
Date Created: | 1839 | ||||||||||
Accession Number: | 1928-71 | ||||||||||
Brief Description: | Experimental photogenic drawing by Sir John Herschel, February 17, 1839, made during the earliest phase of his photographic researches either as a hypo fixing experiment or possibly (in view of the extensive retouching) as a negative for 're-reversal' (positive printing) experiments. The photographic image has disappeared, leaving only the ink and pencil retouching marks and ink border on paper that seems completely clean of image chemistry. It is one of 5 specimens among Herschel's experiments that show this peculiar characteristic. Schultze believed (incorrectly) that it was a real camera image. An experimental positive from it is 70469, and as well as illustrating that the negative did originally carry a good detailed image it also includes (within the image) Herschel's inscription from this negative. Subject: engraving 56241, woodland glade with mountains Technique: contact copy Format: horizontal, larger than usual Polarity: negative Orientation: laterally reversed Quality: photographic image completely disappeared Colour: completely faded to the natural paper colour except for retouching Chemistry: silver based, hypo fixed, Coating: ink and pencil retouching Inscription: signature, date, chemical note Paper: thin Condition: good Purpose: it would be presumed to be a failed hypo fixing experiment but for the extensive retouching; perhaps it was made deliberately for use as a negative in experiments with making positive copies (prints), and at least two such copies do exist from it (19329 and 70469). For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives. | ||||||||||
Primary Inscriptions: | 'J.F.W.H. Photog. Feb 17/39 | H.S.' [hyposulphite of soda]. | ||||||||||
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: |
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Narratives | |||||||||||
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