Russian Battery, Crimea
Photograph
September 1855 (photographed)
September 1855 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Crimean War photograph is the final view mounted in the album Views in China containing photographs by the Italian-born Felice Beato which were taken in 1860 during the Second Opium War. This view is the only photograph not relating to the Chinese conflict and was possibly added later.
It is known that Beato worked as James Robertson's assistant during the period of the Crimean War and that this relationship later evolved into a partnership as early as late 1856 when works started to appear signed 'Robertson and Beato.' Jointly signed photographs of the Middle East continued to be exhibited at least until 1860 and Robertson continued to sell their photographs until his retirement in 1867.
The fading indicates that Robertson failed to thoroughly wash this print.
It is known that Beato worked as James Robertson's assistant during the period of the Crimean War and that this relationship later evolved into a partnership as early as late 1856 when works started to appear signed 'Robertson and Beato.' Jointly signed photographs of the Middle East continued to be exhibited at least until 1860 and Robertson continued to sell their photographs until his retirement in 1867.
The fading indicates that Robertson failed to thoroughly wash this print.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Russian Battery, Crimea (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print from wet collodion on glass negative |
| Brief description | Photograph by James Robertson, (mounted in the album of Felice Beato photographs Views of China), 'Russian Battery, Crimea', albumen print, c. 1856 |
| Physical description | A sepia-coloured photograph showing artillery mounted into a trench wall mounted into a bound album of 53 individual pages with dark green half-leather and green marble boards. There is a gilt red leather label on cover reading VIEWS IN CHINA within a decorative frame. There are marbled endpapers. This views shows extreme fading. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Purchased from Mrs. Doris Hansford, 1975 |
| Object history | This album of photographs was acquired in 1975 from Doris Hansford, the wife of Professor Professor S.(Sidney) Howard Hansford. He was a student in China during the 1930s when he recorded some ‘home movies’ in Beijing. He later became a Professor of Asian art at University of London. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This Crimean War photograph is the final view mounted in the album Views in China containing photographs by the Italian-born Felice Beato which were taken in 1860 during the Second Opium War. This view is the only photograph not relating to the Chinese conflict and was possibly added later. It is known that Beato worked as James Robertson's assistant during the period of the Crimean War and that this relationship later evolved into a partnership as early as late 1856 when works started to appear signed 'Robertson and Beato.' Jointly signed photographs of the Middle East continued to be exhibited at least until 1860 and Robertson continued to sell their photographs until his retirement in 1867. The fading indicates that Robertson failed to thoroughly wash this print. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 174-1975 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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