Double portrait of two women thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Double portrait of two women

Daguerreotype
1840s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The daguerreotype process was introduced to the public in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, and was hugely popular as a medium for portraiture until the middle of the 1850s. To create a daguerreotype, a silver plated sheet was given a light sensitive surface coating of iodine vapour. After a long exposure in the camera, the image was developed over heated mercury and fixed in a common salt solution. The image lies on a mirror-like surface and is best seen from an angle to minimise reflections.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDouble portrait of two women (generic title)
Materials and techniques
daguereotype photography, hand-tinted, gilt mount, leather case, copper, glass
Brief description
Daguerreotype photograph, double portrait of two women, hand-tinted, gilt mount and maker's case; Kilburn, William Edward, c.1840
Physical description
Daguerreotype, hand-tinted in gilt mount and makers case. Double portrait of two women, one seated holding a book, one standing. Column at left,painted sky backdrop.
Dimensions
  • From catalogue height: 9cm
  • From catalogue width: 6.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'BY APPOINTMENT / MR. KILBURN / 234(?) REGENT STREET' (Impressed gold seal on front of case)
Subjects depicted
Summary
The daguerreotype process was introduced to the public in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, and was hugely popular as a medium for portraiture until the middle of the 1850s. To create a daguerreotype, a silver plated sheet was given a light sensitive surface coating of iodine vapour. After a long exposure in the camera, the image was developed over heated mercury and fixed in a common salt solution. The image lies on a mirror-like surface and is best seen from an angle to minimise reflections.
Collection
Accession number
E.1157-1992

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Record createdNovember 7, 2007
Record URL
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