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History of Science Museum

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

Inventory Number 18784


Item type
Object
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).
Primary inscriptions
'511'.
Physical material
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 120mm Width: 97mm
Inventory No
18784
Accession Number
1928-71

Description

Experimental photogenic drawing by Sir John Herschel, undated but 1839, made as a fixing and positive printing experiment. Its unusual colouring, and perhaps the silver tarnishing at the edges, indicates a variant fixing or even senitising chemistry.

Subject: engraving 61514, lady with head-dress

Technique: contact copy (print) from a negative

Format: vertical

Polarity: positive

Orientation: correct

Quality: fair

Colour: pale wine red, natural highlights, browing and silver tarnishing at edges

Chemistry: presumably silver based

Coating: none

Inscription: number

Paper: heavy

Condition: good

Purpose: a fixing and positive printing experiment.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.