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Solar Effect in the Clouds – Ocean

Photograph
1856–59 (made)
Artist/Maker

Black and white photograph of a seascape with the sun shining through the clouds that is being reflected in the ocean in the centre of the picture.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleSolar Effect in the Clouds – Ocean (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
albumen print
Brief description
Photograph by Gustave Le Gray, Solar Effect in the Clouds – Ocean, 1856–59, 19thC, Townshend Bequest
Physical description
Black and white photograph of a seascape with the sun shining through the clouds that is being reflected in the ocean in the centre of the picture.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 310mm
  • Image width: 396mm
  • Sheet height: 347mm
  • Sheet width: 436mm
Gallery label
Photography Centre 2018-20: Collection in Focus: Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798–1868) Chauncy Hare Townshend was one of the few serious collectors of photography in the early years of its development. Apart from Prince Albert, he remains the only identifiable British private collector of early photographs on such a scale. He was an extremely wealthy art collector and connoisseur who moved in the highest social and literary circles – Charles Dickens even dedicated Great Expectations to him. Townshend bequeathed his large art collection, including paintings, furniture, gemstones, books and coins, as well as his photographs, to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1868. His impressive photography collection ranged from images of political, military and contemporary events to a particularly striking group of French fine art photographs. Practising photographers tended to collect photographs, exchanging works as examples of style and process. But Townshend, who was not a photographer, recognised both photography’s documentary value, and even more so, its exciting new artistic capabilities. 9. Gustave Le Gray (1820–84) Solar Effect in the Clouds – Ocean 1856–59 Albumen print Museum no. 67996
Credit line
Bequeathed by Chauncey Hare Townshend
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
67996

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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