History of Science Museum: Collection Database Search

Record Details

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

Inventory Number: 62958
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, undated but October 1839, made as a hypo fixing experiment. Companion of 43408 (dated October 20, 1839) and 98548.

Subject: engraving 28374, lady with guitar
Technique: contact copy
Format: vertical
Polarity: negative
Orientation: laterally reversed
Quality: good detail and highlights, spoiled by grey staining
Colour: brown, dark brown border, grey staining
Chemistry: silver based, presumably hypo fixed
Coating: none
Inscription: number
Paper: thinnish
Condition: good
Purpose: a hypo fixing experiment.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.
Primary Inscriptions: '623'.
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
131 102 mm

Narratives

Permalink: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/object/inv/62958