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: 65957
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. Stiff paper with one torn edge; earlier fold mark down the middle. Very dark greenish black, seemingly with no visible image, though (like its companions 52921 and 98504) there may possibly be an indistinct vestigial plant-like image. The back is greyish and dark green. 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.
Primary Inscriptions:
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
88 114 mm

Narratives

Permalink: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/object/inv/65957