The Birdcage by D.O. Hill and Robert Adamson
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 1522861.3
Summary
A large mounted reproduction monochrome silver gelatine bromide photographic print of The Birdcage by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson (1843-5), a Calotype with original image size 210 mm x 160 mm. The portrait format image depicts two women standing next to a hanging birdcage. One woman, wearing a shawl over her dress, has her back to the camera and her left hand on the cage. The other woman is sideways to the camera, looking down. The need for direct sunlight to reduce exposure time meant that Hill and Adamson posed their subjects outside but skilfully arranged curtains and furniture to convey the impression of an interior. 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: "D. O. Hill and Robert Adamson: The Birdcage1843-5" 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