Not currently on display at the V&A

Visitors' Reach, Srinuggur

Photograph
1864 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1863 Samuel Bourne (1834-1912) arrived in India. He had left his job as a Nottingham bank clerk in order to develop his new career as a photographer. Bourne undertook three treks to Kashmir and the western Himalayas in 1863, 1864 and 1866, during which he photographed his surroundings extensively.

He began his second trip to India, during which this photograph was taken, in March 1864. It was to be a nine-month expedition through the Kashmir region. Throughout his travels he wrote about his first impressions of the places he visited and these writings were published in the British Journal of Photography. Of his first impressions of Srinagar (Srinugger) he noted: "The first three days after my arrival at Srinugger were spent in “wanderings in search of the picturesque;” and, if my readers will accompany me in these peregrinations, they will see most of the beauties of this “terrestrial paradise.” Finding the visitors’ “bungalows” all full I pitched my tent on the left hand of the river under the shade of some mulberry trees. It was the 3rd of July and as fine a morning as ever dawned on earth, when I awoke after a sound night’s sleep, in the highest possible spirits to set forth on my mission of pleasure." Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4

Towards the end of the 1860s, Bourne established a partnership with fellow photographer and Englishman Charles Shepherd (fl.1858-1878) and in the space of a few years Bourne & Shepherd became the pre-eminent photographic firm in India. By the end of 1870 they had three branches, in Simla, Calcutta and Bombay.

Samuel Bourne’s ability to combine technical skill and artistic vision has led to him being recognised today as one of the most outstanding photographers working in India in the nineteenth century.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Visitors' Reach, Srinuggur (assigned by artist)
  • Srinagar, Kashmir (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion negative
Brief description
Photograph, 'Visitors' Reach, Srinuggur', albumen print, Samuel Bourne, India, 1860s
Physical description
The photograph show the view looking across the river with a raised riverbank on the left hand side and boats on the far side.
Dimensions
  • Photograph height: 22.8cm
  • Photograph width: 29.5cm
  • Mount height: 26.5cm
  • Mount width: 33cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signature and negative number in bottom left hand corner
Object history
This 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 it is categorised. The mount is white. Bottom Left: Label from Bourne catalogue with some handwritten text.
Production
The negative was made in 1864. This print was made before March 1867.
Place depicted
Summary
In 1863 Samuel Bourne (1834-1912) arrived in India. He had left his job as a Nottingham bank clerk in order to develop his new career as a photographer. Bourne undertook three treks to Kashmir and the western Himalayas in 1863, 1864 and 1866, during which he photographed his surroundings extensively.

He began his second trip to India, during which this photograph was taken, in March 1864. It was to be a nine-month expedition through the Kashmir region. Throughout his travels he wrote about his first impressions of the places he visited and these writings were published in the British Journal of Photography. Of his first impressions of Srinagar (Srinugger) he noted: "The first three days after my arrival at Srinugger were spent in “wanderings in search of the picturesque;” and, if my readers will accompany me in these peregrinations, they will see most of the beauties of this “terrestrial paradise.” Finding the visitors’ “bungalows” all full I pitched my tent on the left hand of the river under the shade of some mulberry trees. It was the 3rd of July and as fine a morning as ever dawned on earth, when I awoke after a sound night’s sleep, in the highest possible spirits to set forth on my mission of pleasure." Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4

Towards the end of the 1860s, Bourne established a partnership with fellow photographer and Englishman Charles Shepherd (fl.1858-1878) and in the space of a few years Bourne & Shepherd became the pre-eminent photographic firm in India. By the end of 1870 they had three branches, in Simla, Calcutta and Bombay.

Samuel Bourne’s ability to combine technical skill and artistic vision has led to him being recognised today as one of the most outstanding photographers working in India in the nineteenth century.
Other number
793 - Negative number
Collection
Accession number
52963

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Record createdAugust 18, 2016
Record URL
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