History of Science Museum: Collection Database Search

Record Details

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

Inventory Number: 83088
Object Type:
Persons: Sir John Frederick William Herschel (Photographer)
Date Created:
Accession Number: 1928-71
Brief Description: Experimental photogenic drawing by Sir John Herschel, undated but 1839, probably a fixing experiment. An unusual specimen, with no visible image, possibly a hint of a darker border (indicating a contact copy of an engraving) but vey uncertain.

Subject: not apparent, no image
Technique: not apparent
Format: not apparent
Polarity: not apparent
Orientation: not apparent
Quality: no visible image
Colour: very pale lilac, faintly streaky and mottled, brown discoloration at long edges especially one
Chemistry: presumably silver based, but not apparent
Coating: none
Inscription: none
Paper: heavy, larger than usual
Condition: good
Purpose: not apparent, probably a fixing 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
137 161 mm

Narratives

Permalink: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/object/inv/83088