A devotee reading a manuscript
Photograph
1950s-1960s (made), 1990s (printed)
1950s-1960s (made), 1990s (printed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This photograph is taken from a high viewpoint looking directly down upon a man seated on a patterned mosaic floor. He is reading a manuscript which is laid out in front of him on a piece of cloth. Next to the manuscript is an image of the Hindu goddess Durga and a string of beads.
The American photojournalist Frank Monaco (1917-2007) did not take up photography until the early 1950s. He visited India many times between 1965 and 2004 and took a series of photographs which document temples and the busy life in and around the temple sites. In his images Monaco manages to capture people worshipping and performing ritual ceremonies within the temple complex and beyond without being intrusive.
The American photojournalist Frank Monaco (1917-2007) did not take up photography until the early 1950s. He visited India many times between 1965 and 2004 and took a series of photographs which document temples and the busy life in and around the temple sites. In his images Monaco manages to capture people worshipping and performing ritual ceremonies within the temple complex and beyond without being intrusive.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | A devotee reading a manuscript (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Black and white photograph |
Brief description | 'A devotee reading a manuscript', black and white photograph by Frank Monaco, India, 1950s-1960s, printed in 1990s |
Physical description | This black and white photograph is taken from a high view point and looks directly down upon a man seated on a patterned mosaic floor. He is reading a manuscript which is laid out in front of him on a piece of cloth. Next to the manuscript is an image of the Hindu goddess Durga, and a string of beads. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Name of photographer marked on back |
Credit line | Given by Frank Monaco |
Production | This print made in the 1990s. In a letter written to the museum after Frank Monaco’s death in 2007, his nephew, Oliver Morse wrote: ‘We believe that Frank visited India 16 times during the last 25 years of his life. His papers show that he went there for two weeks in February 2004, and we think that this was his final visit. From the 1950s up until about the year 2000 his camera of choice was the Leica. This remained his favourite camera, but in about 2000 he also started using a digital camera. At this time he also took with him on his trips a second separate digital camera loaded with colour film. This enabled him to photograph the same scene in colour within the same 5 minute period….’ Letter dated January 15th 2008 is in the Registered file: 1999/709 In a further letter dated 19th January 2008, his other nephew, Jonathan Morse, found a list of dates in his diary which he believes were the dates that Frank travelled to India. The 19 dates are noted in the Registered file: 1999/709 |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Summary | This photograph is taken from a high viewpoint looking directly down upon a man seated on a patterned mosaic floor. He is reading a manuscript which is laid out in front of him on a piece of cloth. Next to the manuscript is an image of the Hindu goddess Durga and a string of beads. The American photojournalist Frank Monaco (1917-2007) did not take up photography until the early 1950s. He visited India many times between 1965 and 2004 and took a series of photographs which document temples and the busy life in and around the temple sites. In his images Monaco manages to capture people worshipping and performing ritual ceremonies within the temple complex and beyond without being intrusive. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IS.100-2006 |
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Record created | October 2, 2006 |
Record URL |
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