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History of Science Museum

Photograph (Platinum Print) of James Bellamy and Another Man in Bagley Wood, near Oxford, 1890s

Inventory Number 79311


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.79311

Item type
Object
Primary inscriptions
Inscribed on back: 'Dr James Bellamy President of St Johns at the Baggley Picnic.'.
Physical material
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 85mm Width: 111mm
Inventory No
79311

Description

Platinum print. Top right corner torn away. Candid portrait of James Bellamy, seated half length, in profile to left; with another man sitting beside him, and further figures in background. They are out of doors, near a building or shelter, at the college picnic in Bagley Wood, near Oxford. Companion of 93919 (taken moments earlier or later), and also of 54726. All three are candid photographs, early examples of snapshots. Horizontal format.

James Bellamy, DD (1819-1909) was President of St John's College, Oxford 1871-1909. How the photographs came to the Museum is not known.

The image shows in pale brown on the back of the photograph, probably an effect from the iron salts which were the sensitising agent in platinum prints.