Photograph
1862 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Stereograph from the International Exhibition of 1862 depicting a view at Crystal Palace.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stereoscopic photograph |
| Brief description | Stereograph from the International Exhibition of 1862 depicting a view at Crystal Palace, photographed by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. Great Britain, 1862. |
| Physical description | Stereograph from the International Exhibition of 1862 depicting a view at Crystal Palace. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | The Great Exhibition, the brainchild of Prince Albert, the Consort to Queen Victoria, was conceived during the the 1840s and opened in Hyde Park on 1 May 1851. After a quiet beginning it proved to be a vast success in the six months that it ran and was, up to that time, the greatest peacetime movement of persons ever witnessed. Over six million people visited between May and October. On the last day, 11 October 1851, no fewer than 53,000 people visited the Exhibition.
It was housed in the beautiful Crystal Palace, an inspired design by Joseph Paxton, based on his building of the great glasshouses at Chatsworth.
After the Exhibition, there was great debate about what to do with the Crystal Palace. It could not stay in Hyde Park and was eventually, in 1854, rebuilt at Sydenham in south London. There the Exhibition was re-created anew.
Wild claims have been made regarding stereoviews of the Crystal Palace. Many are claimed to be of the Exhibition in Hyde Park when in fact, apparently none are known to exist.
Views do exist, however, of the Crystal Palace as reconstructed at Sydenham. An especially fine series was produced by T.R. Williams. De la Motte also produced fine views. Exterior views usually illustrate the two distinctive towers (for water storage), which didn't even exist at the Hyde Park site. An entirely separate exhibition set was produced by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company for the 1862 exhibition; these were taken by their chief photographer, William England. This exhibition was held in a purpose-built building at South Kensington, known as the 'Brompton Boilers' because of its two large domes, and promptly demolished afterwards. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 213-1957 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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