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History of Science Museum

Photograph (Albumen Print) of William Horsell, by Maull & Polyblank, London, c.1857

Inventory Number 17477


Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.17477

Item type
Object
Provenance
Presented by the Executors of G. H. Gabb in 1949. From the collection of Richard Inwards.
Primary inscriptions
Inscribed on back: 'Wm- Horsell | Author of "Hydropathy for | the people" | about 1857 | Maull & Poly blank | photos' [in Richard Inwards's hand].
Physical material
Paper
Card
Dimensions
Height: 97mm Width: 69mm
Inventory No
17477
Accession Number
1949-10

Description

Albumen print either mounted on thin card or printed on stiff paper, rich brown tones. Portrait of William Horsell, standing half length, turned to left, looking to front. Cut down from a larger photograph. With a somewhat later identifying inscription on the back by Richard Inwards.

William Horsell (1807-1863) was a promoter of hydropathy, temperance, and vegetarianism, a significant pioneer of the latter cause and one of the first to campaign against tobacco. There are no other known photographs of him, and the several engraved portraits are probably based on it.