Physical description
Lady Hawarden was admired by her contemporaries in the Photographic Society of London. She was awarded medals in 1863 'for the best photograph by an amateur' and in 1864 for 'the best group, or groups, or composition or compositions, each from a single negative'. Lewis Carroll, who visited the exhibition, wrote in his diary: 'I did not admire Mrs Cameron's large heads, taken out of focus. The best of the life ones were Lady Hawarden's'. He bought five. Virginia Dodier has written of this image: 'Perhaps Clementina, in prophetess robes and headdress, appears here as her sister's guide, as in a dream'.
5 Princes Gardens, interior: first floor, front: right window (not shown): screen: Clementina (three-quarter length), in fancy dress (prophetess: classical draperies, with star head-dress), eyes up, standing, right hand on Florence Elizabeth's right shoulder, left arm outstretched and pointing with forefinger, and Florence Elizabeth (half-length), in fancy dress (peasant bodice and skirt, with cape), eyes closed, seated, leaning right on Clementina's left side, both hands on glass of wine on French-style side-table.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
ca. 1863-1864 (photographed)
Artist/maker
Clementina, Lady Hawarden, born 1822 - died 1865 (photographer)
Materials and Techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion glass negative
Dimensions
Height: 392 mm sheet, Width: 312 mm sheet
Object history note
Lady Clementina Hawarden took up photography about 1857 and became one of the most experimental and original photographers of the nineteenth century. She often used her children, husband and servants as models. The full-length looking-glass mirror which often appears in her pictures was known as a ‘psyche’ and is a visual pun on the Greek god ‘Psyche’, who represented the spiritual aspect of mankind. So the mirror and figures together in her pictures seem to represent the spiritual and material aspects of human life.
Historical context note
From departmental notes
'Clementina, Lady Hawarden (Untitled) Photographic Study (or) Study from Life (D.688) c.1863-c.1864 5 Princes Gardens, interior: first floor, front: right window (not shown): screen: Clementina (three-quarter length), in fancy dress (prophetess: classical draperies, with star head-dress), eyes up, standing, right hand on Florence Elizabeth's right shoulder, left arm outstretched and pointing with forefinger, and Florence Elizabeth (half-length), in fancy dress (peasant bodice and skirt, with cape), eyes closed, seated, leaning right on Clementina's left side, both hands on glass of wine on French-style side-table. Inscription (verso): No. 8; Inscription (verso of mount): (X614-)57 231 x 283 mm PH 298-1947 Series 133Literature: Microfilm: 3.18.119 Perhaps Clementina, in prophetess robes and headdress, appears here as her sister's guide, as in a dream.'
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Literature: Microfilm: 3.18.119
Exhibition History
19th Century Photography: Victorian Visions (Lady Lever Art Gallery 01/12/2007-16/03/2008)
Subjects depicted
Clothing; Interior; Maude, Clementina; Maude, Florence Elizabeth
Categories
Photographs
Collection code
PDP
