Thomas Carlyle
Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 - 1879)
Category
Photographs
Date
1867 - 1875
Materials
Measurements
585 x 468 mm
Collection
Carlyle's House, London
NT 263628
Caption
Just a few years after receiving her first camera, a 48th-birthday gift from her daughter, the pioneering Julia Margaret Cameron set out to capture the likeness of Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881). Cameron likely utilised the studio of artist George Frederic Watts (1817–1904) to pose the renowned Scottish historian and writer. Watts was a long-term resident at Little Holland House in Kensington, the home of Cameron’s sister, Sara Prinsep (1816–87). Controlling the pooling of natural light, she photographed him both straight to camera and in profile. With no neck support, Carlyle would have struggled to remain completely still for the required exposure time of three to seven minutes. Resulting motion blur and soft focus are typical characteristics in Cameron’s work. Unconcerned by technical expectations, she readily accepted imperfections and inconsistencies in her printing, favouring artistic impact. As for Carlyle, he voiced his dislike, stating it to be ‘terrifically ugly and woe-begone – but [it] has something of likeness’.
Summary
Mounted print, Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 - 79), portrait of Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881), made c.1867.
Marks and inscriptions
Print’s mount bears the inscription “Julia Margaret Cameron Freshwater From life. Registered photograph copyright.” A blind stamp on the mount indicates that the print was sold by Mess. Colnaghi, 14 Pall Mall East London
Makers and roles
Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 - 1879), photographer