The Chandra valley from Choto Shigri - Shigri Peaks in the Far Distance.
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Bourne, Samuel, born 1834 - died 1912 (photographer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Albumen print from a wet collodion glass negative
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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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.’
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.
Place of Origin
India (photographed)
Date
1866 (photographed)
Artist/maker
Bourne, Samuel, born 1834 - died 1912 (photographer)
Materials and Techniques
Albumen print from a wet collodion glass negative
Marks and inscriptions
Signature and negative number in bottom right hand side.
Dimensions
Width: 31.5 cm photographic print, Height: 18.5 cm photographic print, Width: 32.9 cm mount, Height: 26.7 cm mount
Object history note
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 note
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.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, December 31 1869, pg 629.
Production Note
The negative was made in 1866. This print was made before March 1867.
Techniques
Wet collodion process
Subjects depicted
India
Categories
Photographs
Collection code
SSEA
