Clementina and Isabella Grace Maude, 5 Princes Gardens thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case X, Shelf 33, Box HXI

Clementina and Isabella Grace Maude, 5 Princes Gardens

Photograph
ca. 1859-1864 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Lady Hawarden perhaps photographed her children for the same reason as many parents today: to record the stages of growing up, to make the most of fleeting moments of relaxation and calm, to preserve youthful beauty and so on. She differed from most fond parental snapshot photographers, however, in devoting a floor of her house to photography - notice the bare boards of her studio. She employed a variety of cameras and formats, and used a highly complicated but up-to-date process (the wet collodion on glass negative). All this shows that she photographed very deliberately. She also exhibited the results at the Photographic Society of London, one of the most prestigious institutions of the day. Thus, this photograph has the attractions of a snapshot but it is taken to a higher than usual level of achievement.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Clementina and Isabella Grace Maude, 5 Princes Gardens (assigned by artist)
  • Photographic Study (series title)
Materials and techniques
Photograph
Brief description
19thC; Hawarden C, D 292, 5 Princes Gardens, Clementina, Isabella Grace, c. 1861
Physical description
Sepia photograph, mounted on card, showing two young women dressed in white in an interior: one reading, the other standing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.5cm
  • Width: 9.0cm
Style
Production typeUnlimited edition
Credit line
Given by Lady Clementina Tottenham
Historical context
From departmental notes

'Clementina, Lady Hawarden(Untitled) Photographic Study (or) Study from Life (D.292) c.1861 5 Princes Gardens, interior: first floor, front: left and centre windows (net curtains drawn back): floor-boards: Clementina, eyes down, seated, looking at open book on lap, and Isabella Grace, eyes down, standing, right hand on Clementina's shoulder. Reflection of Isabella Grace's skirt in window. Visible through centre window: balustrade; houses east side of Princes Gardens. 115 x 90 mm PH 457-1968:548 Series 49 Literature: Microfilm: 3.19.483 also: ed. Graham Ovenden, Clementina Lady Hawarden, 1974, p.33 (air-brushed). The Golden Age of British Photography (travelli exhibition), Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984-85. Here Lady Hawarden expresses her daughters' mutual devotion. The moment is held by their absorption in a book. The title is not known, nor are the contents of the Hawardens' library, but Lady Hawarden's uncle encouraged his nieces to read books 'chosen with a view to improving and strengthening the mind.' [Mountstuart Elphinstone to Anne Bontine, 15 July 1847. National Library of Scotland, MS 10288.] The title is not known, nor are the contents of the Hawardens' library, but Lady Hawarden's uncle encouraged his nieces to read books 'chosen with a view to improving and strengthening the mind.' [Mountstuart Elphinstone to Anne Bontine, 15 July 1847. National Library of Scotland, MS 10288.] read books 'chosen with a view to improving and strengthening the mind.' [Mountstuart Elphinstone to Anne Bontine, 15 July 1847. National Library of Scotland, MS 10288.]'
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Lady Hawarden perhaps photographed her children for the same reason as many parents today: to record the stages of growing up, to make the most of fleeting moments of relaxation and calm, to preserve youthful beauty and so on. She differed from most fond parental snapshot photographers, however, in devoting a floor of her house to photography - notice the bare boards of her studio. She employed a variety of cameras and formats, and used a highly complicated but up-to-date process (the wet collodion on glass negative). All this shows that she photographed very deliberately. She also exhibited the results at the Photographic Society of London, one of the most prestigious institutions of the day. Thus, this photograph has the attractions of a snapshot but it is taken to a higher than usual level of achievement.
Bibliographic reference
Literature: Microfilm: 3.19.483 also: ed. Graham Ovenden, Clementina Lady Hawarden, 1974, p.33 (air-brushed).
Collection
Accession number
457:548-1968

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 createdFebruary 16, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest