Not currently on display at the V&A

The Chandra valley from Choto Shigri - Shigri Peaks in the Far Distance.

Photograph
1866 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

From July to December 1866 the English photographer Samuel Bourne toured part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in the British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and describing some of the scenes he had photographed. Of the Chandra Valley in the north-west Himalayas he wrote:

‘The scenery all around was very wild and barren, and the muddy waters of the Chandra River rolled down a valley as destitute of vegetation as the pavements of a London street. I could not help stopping two or three times to get views of the peaks towering around and the river, enabling me to add some elements of beauty to these pictures of desolation.’


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Chandra valley from Choto Shigri - Shigri Peaks in the Far Distance.
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from a wet collodion glass negative
Brief description
Photograph of the Chandra Valley, India, by Samuel Bourne, 1866.
Physical description
The photograph shows the Chandra river winding through a valley with a magnificent range of snow-tipped mountains in the background, and a fairly dramatic rock formation in the foreground.
Signature and negative number in the bottom right hand side.
Dimensions
  • Photographic print width: 31.5cm
  • Photographic print height: 18.5cm
  • Mount width: 32.9cm
  • Mount height: 26.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signature and negative number in bottom right hand side.
Object history
The photograph was initially part of the photographic collection held in the National Art Library. The markings on the mount are an indication of the history of the object, its movement through the museum and the way in which it is categorised.
The mount is white with handwritten text which is now only partially visible.
Right hand side: A.in. Chandra Valley.
Bottom left: Label from Bourne catalogue with 'Chandra Valley' handwritten below it.
Historical context
Samuel Bourne wrote and published an account of his journey in which he mentions the places that he photographed. Below is the relevant section for this photograph:

'The scenery all around was very wild and barren , and the muddy waters of the Chandra River rolled down a valley as destitute of vegetation as the pavements of a London street. I could not help stopping two or three times to get views of the peaks towering around and the river enabling me to add some elements of beauty to these pictures of desolation'.

Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, December 31 1869, pg 629.
Production
The negative was made in 1866. This print was made before March 1867.
Place depicted
Summary
From July to December 1866 the English photographer Samuel Bourne toured part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in the British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and describing some of the scenes he had photographed. Of the Chandra Valley in the north-west Himalayas he wrote:

‘The scenery all around was very wild and barren, and the muddy waters of the Chandra River rolled down a valley as destitute of vegetation as the pavements of a London street. I could not help stopping two or three times to get views of the peaks towering around and the river, enabling me to add some elements of beauty to these pictures of desolation.’
Bibliographic reference
Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, December 31 1869, pg 629.
Other number
1453 - Negative number
Collection
Accession number
53085

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Record createdDecember 3, 2004
Record URL
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