Bridge across the Sutlej on Kulu road
Photograph
1866 (photographed)
1866 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of the many images of India captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866 he toured a part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes of which he took photographs.
Here is his description of the history of this view: 'At Narkunda we had to leave the high level road which we had travelled for 40 miles from Simla, and descend by a rugged path to the Sutlej [river], about 3,000 feet below. The heat in this valley was intense, and I shall not soon forget the broiling I got in taking a picture of the deodar bridge by which we crossed the river.'
Here is his description of the history of this view: 'At Narkunda we had to leave the high level road which we had travelled for 40 miles from Simla, and descend by a rugged path to the Sutlej [river], about 3,000 feet below. The heat in this valley was intense, and I shall not soon forget the broiling I got in taking a picture of the deodar bridge by which we crossed the river.'
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Bridge across the Sutlej on Kulu road (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print from wet collodion glass negative |
| Brief description | Photograph of a bridge across the river Sutlej on the road to Kullu, India, by Samuel Bourne, 1866 |
| Physical description | The focus of this photograph is a bridge made of deodar wood. The river Sutlej flows underneath it. A small steep path, lined with an insubstantial looking fence, can be seen leading from the hill in the background down to the bridge. Mountains can be seen in the distance in the right hand corner. The photograph picks out the fine detail on the protruding rocks and boulders of the mountain side, the stone and timber which make up the bridge and the foliage in the foreground. On the bridge are two figures carrying on their backs large bundles wrapped in white. These must be part of the photographer's own party. Signature and negative number in the bottom left hand corner. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signature and negative number in the bottom left hand corner. |
| Object history | The 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 in which it was categorised. The mount is white and at one point had handwritten text on top which has since been cut off. In the right side: A.in. Satlej On the bottom: Label from Bourne catalogue with 'Satlej' handwritten beside it. |
| Historical context | Samuel Bourne wrote and published an account of his journey in India in which he mentions the places that he photographed. Below is the relevant section for this photograph. 'At Narkunda we had to leave the high level road which we had travelled for forty miles from Simla, and descend by a rugged path to the Sutlej, about 3000 feet below. The heat in this valley was intense, and I shall not soon forget the broiling I got in taking a picture of the deodar bridge by which we crossed the river.' Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, November 26 1869, pg 570. |
| Production | The negative was made in 1866. This print was made before March 1867. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of the many images of India captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866 he toured a part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes of which he took photographs. Here is his description of the history of this view: 'At Narkunda we had to leave the high level road which we had travelled for 40 miles from Simla, and descend by a rugged path to the Sutlej [river], about 3,000 feet below. The heat in this valley was intense, and I shall not soon forget the broiling I got in taking a picture of the deodar bridge by which we crossed the river.' |
| Bibliographic reference | Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, November 26 1869, pg 570. |
| Other number | 1427 - Negative number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 53060 |
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| Record created | November 26, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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