The Chess Players by W. H. Fox Talbot
Helmut Gernsheim (1913-1995)
Category
Photographs
Date
1970
Materials
Silver gelatin, Silver bromide, Paper, Card
Measurements
500 x 400 x 2 mm
Collection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1522861.2
Summary
A large mounted reproduction monochrome silver gelatine bromide photographic print of The Chess Players by William Henry Fox Talbot (1842/3), a Calotype with original image size 200 mm x 145 mm. The portrait format image depicts two men seated at a table playing chess. The image was taken outdoors at Lacock Abbey, home of Fox Talbot, in order to reduce the exposure time required. This photograph was one of the earliest calotypes with figures. The surface and colour of modern gelatine bromide papers were matched to closely resemble the colour and surface texture of the 19th century original. This enlargement is made from a copy negative taken from the original print. Markings Recto: Printed in black ink on the mount centred below the image: "W.H. Fox Talbot: The Chess Players 1842/3" Handwritten in pencil on the mount bottom left below the image: 24/100 Markings Verso: Printed in black ink centred on the verso of the mount: "Copyright the Gernsheim Collection University of Texas and Photo-Graphic Editions, London. Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited. Part of a limited edition (24/100) set of 10 reproduction Victorian prints, entitled "Photo-Classics 1, Victorian Photography", produced by the Gernsheim Collection, University of Texas and Photo-Graphic Editions Ltd, London.
Makers and roles
Helmut Gernsheim (1913-1995), publisher