Crystal Palace Transept, Hyde Park
Photograph
1852 (made)
1852 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The Great Exhibition included photography classified in both the science and the fine art sections. This photograph of the exhibition building shows the vast enclosure which is virtually empty except for an elm tree which was accommodated during the construction.
Materials & Making
Benjamin Brecknell Turner (1815-1894) began practising photography in 1849 according to the technique patented in 1841 by the British inventor W. H. Fox Talbot (1800-1877). Turner's photographs were 'contact' printed from paper negatives (known as 'calotypes') of the same size, 27 by 39 centimetres. He printed them on 'albumen' paper made by suspending light sensitive silver salts in an emulsion of egg white.
Places
The interior of the Crystal Palace is shown at Hyde Park in March 1852, shortly after the closure of the Great Exhibition and prior to the dismantling of the structure that year for its rebuilding at Sydenham in South London.
Ownership & Use
Turner compiled 60 photographs, including this one, in what is believed to be a unique album, 'Photographic Views from Nature'. It might have been made as a sample book, a convenient method of storing and presenting photographs for personal pleasure and showing to colleagues or potential exhibitors. It remained in the Turner family until 1982 when it was bought by the Museum.
The Great Exhibition included photography classified in both the science and the fine art sections. This photograph of the exhibition building shows the vast enclosure which is virtually empty except for an elm tree which was accommodated during the construction.
Materials & Making
Benjamin Brecknell Turner (1815-1894) began practising photography in 1849 according to the technique patented in 1841 by the British inventor W. H. Fox Talbot (1800-1877). Turner's photographs were 'contact' printed from paper negatives (known as 'calotypes') of the same size, 27 by 39 centimetres. He printed them on 'albumen' paper made by suspending light sensitive silver salts in an emulsion of egg white.
Places
The interior of the Crystal Palace is shown at Hyde Park in March 1852, shortly after the closure of the Great Exhibition and prior to the dismantling of the structure that year for its rebuilding at Sydenham in South London.
Ownership & Use
Turner compiled 60 photographs, including this one, in what is believed to be a unique album, 'Photographic Views from Nature'. It might have been made as a sample book, a convenient method of storing and presenting photographs for personal pleasure and showing to colleagues or potential exhibitors. It remained in the Turner family until 1982 when it was bought by the Museum.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Crystal Palace Transept, Hyde Park (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print from calotype (waxed paper) negative |
| Brief description | Photograph by Benjamin Brecknell Turner, 'Crystal Palace Transept, Hyde Park', 1852, albumen print |
| Physical description | Photograph depicting the interior of the Crystal Palace, Hyde Park. There is a tree contained within the structure. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type The Great Exhibition included photography classified in both the science and the fine art sections. This photograph of the exhibition building shows the vast enclosure which is virtually empty except for an elm tree which was accommodated during the construction. Materials & Making Benjamin Brecknell Turner (1815-1894) began practising photography in 1849 according to the technique patented in 1841 by the British inventor W. H. Fox Talbot (1800-1877). Turner's photographs were 'contact' printed from paper negatives (known as 'calotypes') of the same size, 27 by 39 centimetres. He printed them on 'albumen' paper made by suspending light sensitive silver salts in an emulsion of egg white. Places The interior of the Crystal Palace is shown at Hyde Park in March 1852, shortly after the closure of the Great Exhibition and prior to the dismantling of the structure that year for its rebuilding at Sydenham in South London. Ownership & Use Turner compiled 60 photographs, including this one, in what is believed to be a unique album, 'Photographic Views from Nature'. It might have been made as a sample book, a convenient method of storing and presenting photographs for personal pleasure and showing to colleagues or potential exhibitors. It remained in the Turner family until 1982 when it was bought by the Museum. |
| Bibliographic reference | Roger Taylor, Impressed by Light: British photographs from paper negatives, 1840-1860 New York : Metropolitan Museum of Art ; Washington : National Gallery of Art ; New Haven ; London : Yale University Press, c2007. 9781588392251 (Metropolitan Museum of Art (hc)) 1588392252 (Metropolitan Museum of Art (hc)) 9780300124057 (Yale University Press (hc)) 0300124058 (Yale University Press (hc)). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.1-1982 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 25, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
