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William Henry Fox Talbot

Photograph
c. 1844 (photographed)
Artist/Maker

Claudet was a student of Daguerre, and was among the first to open a photographic portrait studio in London. Though praised for their sharp and minute detail, daguerreotypes were criticised by many for making sitters appear ashen and deathly due to their grey tones. To combat this, some portraits were coloured by hand for a more life-like effect.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWilliam Henry Fox Talbot (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Daguerreotype in a wooden case
Brief description
Photograph by Antoine Claudet, Portrait of William Henry Fox Talbot, daguerreotype, c. 1844.
Physical description
Daguerreotype of a portrait of William Henry Fox Talbot, kept in a leather-coated wooden case. The daguerreotype is in a mount with an oval window. The cover of the case has an embossed label: 'Adelaide Gallery Strand / Claudet's Daguerreotype Process'.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 70mm
  • Image width: 58mm
  • Case (closed) height: 94mm
  • Case (closed) width: 84mm
  • Case (closed) depth: 18mm
  • Case open height: 94mm
  • Case open width: 180mm
Marks and inscriptions
ADELAIDE GALLERY STRAND CLAUDET'S DAGUERREOTYPE PROCESS (Embossed label on front cover of case.)
Gallery label
Photography Centre, 2018-20:

Antoine Claudet (1797–1867)
Portraits: Andrew Pritchard; Mrs Andrew Pritchard; Michael Faraday; William Henry Fox Talbot; Young Man; Elderly Man; Young Man; Grandmother Houghton; Elderly Woman; George Houghton; Unknown Woman; John Flight; Young Woman, possibly from the Houghton Family
1840s–50s

Claudet was a student of Daguerre, and was among the first to open a photographic portrait studio in London. Though praised for their sharp and minute detail, daguerreotypes were criticised by many for making sitters appear ashen and deathly due to their grey tones. To combat this, some portraits were coloured by hand for a more life-like effect.

Daguerreotypes
Museum nos. 57, 1422-1939; RPS.373, 374, 377, 378, 387, 388, 389, 426, 492, 495 & 532-2017

The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Subject depicted
Summary
Claudet was a student of Daguerre, and was among the first to open a photographic portrait studio in London. Though praised for their sharp and minute detail, daguerreotypes were criticised by many for making sitters appear ashen and deathly due to their grey tones. To combat this, some portraits were coloured by hand for a more life-like effect.
Associated object
PROV.2524-2017 (RPS Group record)
Other numbers
  • XRP1516 - RPS collection - V&A identifier
  • 2003-5001/2/20882 - Science Museum Group accession number
  • RPS CAB 7 DR 7 - RPS identifier - misc.
Collection
Accession number
RPS.374-2017

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Record createdMay 23, 2017
Record URL
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