History of Science Museum: Collection Database Search

Record Details

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing), by W. H. Fox Talbot, from the Photographic Experiments of Sir John Herschel, 1839

Inventory Number: 52921
Object Type:
Persons: William Henry Fox Talbot (Photographer)
Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Owner)
Date Created:
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing by W. H. F. Talbot, undated but 1839. Unevenly cut with one side and one corner torn; small part of Whatman 1838 watermark. Probably part of the same original piece of paper as the larger 98504. Very dark purplish black, with some blotchiness which may incorporate indistinct vestiges of a plant image. The back is dark greenish with a buff to pale green area. Given to Herschel by Talbot as a specimen of the current state of his photogenic drawing process.

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
69 50 mm

Narratives

Permalink: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/object/inv/52921