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Convent of Santa Cruz

Photograph
1867 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the V&A's history. Originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design. Charles Thurston Thompson was the V&A's first Official Museum Photographer, in charge of the Museum's photographic operations from 1856 until his death in 1868. In addition to photographing museum objects and objects on loan, he also photographed great works of art and architecture on dedicated photographic campaigns abroad.

These views from the convent in Coimbra were were made by Thurston Thompson's during his 1867 campaign photographing important architecture and art in Portugal and Spain, including views from Santiago de Compostela, and monasteries at Batalha and Belem. The views from Santiago and Batalha were also collected into volumes which were circulated among the schools of art and were also for purchase through the Museum's dedicated photograph sales stall.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleConvent of Santa Cruz (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print
Brief description
Photograph by Charles Thurston Thompson, 'Convent of Santa Cruz, Coimbra, Portugal', albumen print, 1867
Physical description
A sepia-coloured mounted photograph showing the carved carving surrounding a doorway which includes sculptures around an archway. There is also a strreetlamp. A descriptive label is affixed to the mount.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 505mm
  • Mount width: 378mm
Marks and inscriptions
'SCIENCE AND ART DEPARTMENT / NATIONAL ART LIBRARY' (blind stamp, centre top of mount)
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the V&A's history. Originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design. Charles Thurston Thompson was the V&A's first Official Museum Photographer, in charge of the Museum's photographic operations from 1856 until his death in 1868. In addition to photographing museum objects and objects on loan, he also photographed great works of art and architecture on dedicated photographic campaigns abroad.

These views from the convent in Coimbra were were made by Thurston Thompson's during his 1867 campaign photographing important architecture and art in Portugal and Spain, including views from Santiago de Compostela, and monasteries at Batalha and Belem. The views from Santiago and Batalha were also collected into volumes which were circulated among the schools of art and were also for purchase through the Museum's dedicated photograph sales stall.
Collection
Accession number
58407

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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