Dog balancing on two chairs thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case X, Shelf 33H, Box XIII

Dog balancing on two chairs

Photograph
ca. 1861 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

5 Princes Gardens, exterior: terrace: poodle with clipped coat balancing on backs of two chairs. Backs of houses in Princes Gate in background.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDog balancing on two chairs (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion on glass negative
Brief description
19thC. Hawarden C, D 353, 5 Princes Gardens, balcony, dog (poodle) balancing on two chairs, c. 1861; Hawarden C, D 353, 5 Princes Gardens, balcony, dog (poodle) balancing on two chairs, c. 1861
Physical description
5 Princes Gardens, exterior: terrace: poodle with clipped coat balancing on backs of two chairs. Backs of houses in Princes Gate in background.
Dimensions
  • Height: 97mm
  • Length: 75mm
Credit line
Given by Lady Clementina Tottenham
Object history
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
From departmental notes

'Clementina, Lady Hawarden (Untitled) Photographic Study (or) Study from Life (D.353) c.1861 5 Princes Gardens, exterior: terrace: poodle with clipped coat balancing on backs of two chairs. Backs of houses in Princes Gate in background. 97 x 75 mm PH 457-1968:330 Literature: Microfilm: 3.19.438 Also: ed. Alexandra Noble, The Animal in Photography 1843-1985, 1986, p.28. The Animal in Photography 1843-1985, The Photographers' Gallery, 1986. A performing poodle takes centre stage in this photograph. As in Lady Hawarden's other photographs of dogs, the spontaneity and informality of the composition enhance its instantaneity. The exposure lasted perhaps not more than a second, considering the difficulty of keeping the dog in such a precarious position. He is perfectly aligned with the balustrade and his shadow is linked with those of the chairs'
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Literature: Microfilm: 3.19.438 Also: ed. Alexandra Noble, The Animal in Photography 1843-1985, 1986, p.28.
Collection
Accession number
457:330-1968

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 28, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest