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History of Science Museum

Photograph (Experimental Photogenic Drawing, Cyanotype), by Sir John Herschel, c.1842

Inventory Number 23855


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
'ACl'.
Physical material
Paper
Dimensions
Height: 126mm Width: 98mm
Inventory No
23855
Accession Number
1928-71

Description

Experimental photogenic drawing (direct positive cyanotype) by Sir John Herschel, undated, c.1842. The surprising blue and green effect is a characteristic of one of the experimental variants of the cyanotype that produced a direct positive image.

Subject: engraving, lady with harp

Technique: direct-positive contact copy

Format: vertical

Polarity: positive

Orientation: laterally reversed

Quality: good in dark areas, no clean highlights

Colour: dark blue, green border, plain back

Chemistry: direct positive cyanotype, using ?ferric ammonium citrate as sensitising agent

Coating: none

Inscription: chemical note

Paper: normal or thinnish

Condition: good

Purpose: a cyanotype experiment using a variant process that produced a direct positive image.

For fuller descriptive and historical commentary see narratives.