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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
  • Size of each image height: 7.9cm
  • Width: 7.5cm
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
207-1957

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Record createdMay 31, 2018
Record URL
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