1865 BRITISH JOURNAL OF
PHOTOGRAPHY
VOL. XII
VERSION: April 16,08
START:
NOTES:
--Italics have been retained from publications, which uses them for both titles as well as emphasis. To more easily locate image titles, I have continued this italicization when titles have been rendered in all capitols or put in quotes, however italics have NOT been used when the general subject of an image is mentioned.
--Image numbers listed in articles can be either an entry number in an exhibition, or the photographer’s own image number as found on labels.
--All photographer’s names have been bolded for easy location. Numbers frequently refer to the photographer’s image number, but can also refer to a number in a catalog for a show. Decide whether to bold or not if can tell.
--Names: Given abbreviations for titles such as “M” for “Monsieur”, etc., it is not always possible to tell if an individual’s first name or title is being abbreviated. Thus, especially with non-English photographers, too much credence should not be put into an initial that could also serve as an abbreviated title.
--It is not always possible in lists of photographers to know when two separate photographers are partners or not, e.g., in a list, “Smith and Jones” sometimes alludes to two separate photographers and sometimes to one photographic company. Both names will be highlighted and indexed but a partnership may be wrongly assumed. Any information to the contrary would be appreciated.
-- Brackets [ ] are used to indicate supplied comments by the transcriber; parenthesis
( ) are used in the original sources. If the original source has used brackets, they have been transcribed as parenthesis to avoid confusion.
--Articles by photographers about technical matters – only name and titles have been listed. IF AT ALL. If other names are associated with the paper they are listed as well.
--Meetings of Societies – Names of officers, members attending or referenced, dates and locations of meetings have been given. If the reports are very short or discuss photographs, then the articles have been copied; if administrative or technical in nature, they have not.
-- Some journals, e.g., The Art-Journal, cover both photographer and painting/drawing. As they frequently refer to the production of both the photographer and the painter as “pictures” it is not always possible to tell when photography is indicated. If there is doubt, it will be included but a note will be added stating that the names listed may in fact not be photographers.
--Mostly articles totally discussing technical aspects of photography, products, etc. are not transcribed unless they are part of a larger article covering photographs. When technical descriptions are too lengthy to transcribe that is noted.
--Spelling and typos: Nineteenth-century spellings occasionally differs from currently accepted norms. In addition, British spellings also differ from American useage. Common examples are: “colour” vs. “color”; “centre” vs. “center” and the use of “s” for “z” as in “recognise” vs. “recognize. While great care has been exercised in transcribing the 19th-century journals exactly as printed, “spell check” automatically corrects many of these differences. An attempt has been made to recorrect these automatic changes, but no doubt some have slipped through. As for typographical errors, these have been checked although no doubt some have managed to slip through the editorial process. For matters of consequence, I will be happy to recheck the original sources if need be for specific references.
1865: BJP Jan. 6, vol. XII, #241, p. 12:
From the London Gazette, December 30.
--Notice of Sitting for Last Examination:
H. Scholfield, Lansdowne-terrace, Shakespeare-road, Hornsey New-town, and
High-street, Southwark, photographer, January 24.
--Partnership Dissolved, Tuesday January 3:
Johnson and Blackburn, Bradford, Yorkshire, photographic artists.
1865: BJP Jan. 27, vol. XII, #247, p. 52:
From the London Gazette, January 20:
--Bankrupts:
Seth Ellis Wells and Henry Hancock, Leicester, photographers, February 1, at half-past 10, at the Registrar’s Office, Leicester.
1865: BJP Feb. 24, vol. XII, #251:
From the London Gazette, February 17:
--Notice of Sitting for Last Examination:
R. V. Heath, Piccadilly, and Roehampton, photographic artist, March 28
1865: BJP March 3, vol. XII, #252:
Correspondence: Foreign: [selection]:
Bari, February 15th, 1865.
I should have written to you long ere this but for several untoward and unforeseen circumstances which prevented me from using my pen during my journey from Paris to Bari, the latter being one of the principal towns in the late kingdom of Naples.
As I intend sending you several letters during my peregrinations in the East, while recording with my faithful camera my impressions of cities and the customs of many nations, it may, perhaps, be interesting to some of your readers to know something respecting my outfit for the journey.
My packages for photographic purposes are nine in number, all of them numbered and strongly made. No. 1 contains instruments for stereoscopic work, sun shades, lenses, &c. No. 2 is a chemical box, divided into compartments containing chemicals for immediate use. No. 3 is a tent, composed of light white canvas, lined with yellow and black calico. It consists of a pole seven feet long, which joins by a socket in the middle; on the top fits a square piece of wood, a quarter of an inch thick and fifteen inches square. Over this I throw the covering, and fix my table round the pole. Pegs are driven in the ground, by which it is kept in place and secured from the wind. No. 4 contains empty bottles, gutta percha tubing, &c. No. 5 is divided into compartments, and lined with cotton wool for the supply of ether, alcohol, &c. No. 6 is lined in the same way for acetic acid and other chemicals. No. 7 is similar to No. 6. No. 8 contains apparatus for groups, landscapes, lenses, &c., for the same. In No. 9 the glass plates are so arranged that on arrival at Alexandria the large case can be opened and one hundred plates taken out, already packed in smaller boxes. All my stock bottles are encased in wooden covers, to secure them from the negligence of railway and steamboat officials.
Having arranged my route, packed up everything securely, and bidden adieu to my family, I found myself en route for Lyons. At Châlon-sur-Sâone, and for many miles around, the country was completely inundated by the late heavy rain-falls. Arrived at Lyons; slept there, and next morning set out for St. Michel, on reaching which one of our fellow-travellers and his wife were very much surprised to find that the railway did not cross over the top of the Alps as they had fondly imagined and therefore had taken first-class tickets especially for the excitement and comfort of crossing. The baggage being transferred to the diligence we took our places, and the compartments not being very large, at first threatened to give us an uncomfortable journey; however, as neither my partner nor I were very stout, we managed to seat ourselves to our perfect content, much to the seeming annoyance of a portly lady and ditto gentleman opposite, who, together with a third individual, looked as miserable as we were really comfortable. The mules, six in number, being attached, off we started towards Mont Cenis, changing mules four times between St. Michel and Lansleburg. At the latter place we made a hearty meal, and changed the diligence for sledges, the snow being about three feet deep, and in some places drifted to a depth of from ten to twenty feet.
I need hardly tell your readers—for it is now an episode in history—that this pass was rendered passable by the first Napoleon at a cost of eight million francs, occupying for a long time three thousand workmen. The engineer under whose care it was constructed was Car. G. Fabroni.
At 9:30 p.m. we were again en route, and commenced the ascent in a zig-zag direction. It was a very interesting sight to watch a party of sledges making the ascent by moonlight, each sledge being drawn by five mules guided by a conductor. What with the cracking of whips, the jingle of bells, the effect of the lamps shining against the pure white snow, with the lofty peaks of Mont Cenis and surrounding Alps, the whole scene made on me a strange and pleasing impression. Arrived at the highest point of the pass )six thousand feet) we glided gently and swiftly across the plateau for six miles; then commenced the descent, along a road which is one of the most perfect pieces of engineering skill that can well be imagined, gallery after gallery presenting itself along the slope of the mountain. The whole scenery is stupendous, and the soft and easy motion, and the speed with which we descended, reminded one more of being in a railway carriage than on the rugged Cenis. The descent was made by one mule for each sledge instead of five.
Arrived at Suza, we had just time to extricate our luggage from the mélange occasioned by the perfect manner in which the railway authorities here manage to mix up the luggage, thereby giving to passengers a great deal of unnecessary trouble, and securing themselves but few blessings. We were soon at Turin, where we partook of refreshment and strolled out to see the town, which, indeed, was dull enough. On the Place St. Carlo we saw many houses with the marks of the bullets on the walls fired on the memorable night of the 22nd September, 1864, when two hundred persons were killed and three hundred wounded.
Leaving Turin with anything but regret, we took the train for Bologna, and were amply repaid for the six hours we stayed there. The city itself is very interesting, and presents many architectural “bits” for the photographer. It was here that Rossini prosecuted his studies, and here his Stabat Mater was executed for the first time in one of the rooms of the University, which still retains the name of the “Chamber of the Stabat Mater.” We were fortunate in securing a good guide, and one who had served the great maestro for fourteen years in the capacity of barber. For the benefit of any of your readers who might like to visit the city, his address is next door to the Hôtel Impérial et Royal de St. Marc, and his name is Eduared Ferrare. We visited first the collection of paintings in the Gallerie Zambeccari, where are to be found several specimens of Barroccio, Elisabetta Sirani, the “vierge” of Correggio and Murillo. From thence we proceeded to the Academy of Fine Arts, containing a rare and choice collection of excellent works. In one room alone were seven examples of Guido Reni (one of them being his Triumph of the Virgin, executed when he was only twenty years of age), and the St. Cecilia, of Raphael—a masterpiece in some respects, but to my eyes lacking inspiration owing to the principal figure being crude and harsh. Passing on we find the Nativity of Christ, and the Offerings by the Wise Men of the East, two of the finest of the works of Luigi Carracci. it would take too much of your space were I to describe to you this gallery, and many other important places in Bologna. I must, therefore, pass by the cathedral, the two leaning towers (three hundred feet high, and built in the eleventh century), the old university (now the pubic library, containing some beautiful specimens of the Florentine school), and go direct to the railway station for Ancona.
Arriving there at 9.30 p.m. we supped and retired, intending to start by the four o’clock train next morning. We were called up at three, and having arrived at the station we had the pleasure of finding that on account of the great amount of rain that had lately fallen, the rails had been washed away for several miles; we therefore retraced our steps to the hotel, and were soon fast asleep again—the old saying that it never rains but it pours having proved in our case only too true.
The following morning we found that we could only go a little way down the line, and not liking to return again to the hotel we took our tickets for the distance that we could get. Much to our delight we were enabled to go two stations further than we expected, and arrived at Pescara, a fortified town and fishing port on the Adriatic coast of the late kingdom of Naples. here we were fortunate in coming in contact with a very nice fellow and his wife, who, like ourselves, were desirous of going to Bari, but who were also weather-bound. Finding that he was a photographer, with the freemasonry of the craft we soon became great friends, and by his extreme good nature and through knowledge of the country we were saved a great deal of trouble and expense. Our first anxiety was to et to a hotel, I will not say a good one; for, in the kingdom of Naples, or rather that portion if Italy lately so designated, such a luxury is unknown, the houses and people being alike dirty and far behind the ordinary peasant civilization of Europe. But as there are always two sides to a picture, let us take the best. At the dinner-table we found several officers detained by the same circumstances as ourselves, and friends in adversity are soon one in action. By the kindness of our photographic companion, we and the officers received an invitation to spend the evening with some friends of his; we therefore had the pleasure of experiencing the amiability and gracefulness of the Neapolitan ladies, whose dark hair and piercing eyes were very captivating to the fairer descendants of the Saxon race. The evening passed pleasantly indeed, and many amusing stories were recounted by two of our military friends, who, it seems, were stationed in the adjacent mountains with thirty soldiers to arrest the march of the brigands. After taking leave of our kind friends we retired to our hotel, which may be described in a very few words:--A very dirty house supported with plants of wood—no fires, stone floors never cleaned, shocking odours, and filthy windows—such is the Grand Hotel du Lion at Pescara. L. Hart. (To be continued)
1865: BJP June 3, vol. XII, #269, pp. 343-344: NOTE: P. 343 TO BE TRANSCRIBED FROM XEROX COPY. ONLY p. 344 taken directly from book follows:
In order to bring the actinic portion of the spectrum between parallel borders, i.e.,, to one focus, it is necessary that a given crown lens should be combined with a flint which will produce a combined focal length about one-tenth shorter than would be required to satisfy the conditions of achromatism for the eye, and in this condition the objective is entirely worthless for vision.
Having obtained the achromatic correction, I had a most delicate task to produce the correction for figure, since the judgment of the eye was useless unless entirely protected from the influence of all but the actinic rays. A cell of glass inclosing a sufficient thickness of the cupro-sulphate of ammonia, held between the eye and the eyepiece, enabled me to work for coarse corrections upon a Lyræ and Sirius, but so darkened the expanded disc of a star in and out of focus that all the final corrections were made upon tests by photography, which gave permanent record of all the irregularities of surface to be combated. Still, however, the process was long and tedious, dependent upon but three stars as tests, and they too often obscured by bad weather. My mode of correction was almost entirely of a local nature, such as practiced by the late Mr. Fitz and Mr. Clark for many years.
This objective was completed about the 1st of December last; it has the same aperture (11 ¼ inches) as the achromatic, with a few inches shorter focal length, and can be substituted for it in the tube with great case. The corrections of this objective are such that I think it capable of picturing any object as seen, provided there be sufficient light and no atmospheric obstacles.
As respects the light, I have obtained images of stars designated by Smythe as of the 8 ½ magnitude, and other stars on the same plate of full a magnitude lower. In the cluster Proesepe, within the space of one degree square twenty-three stars are taken, many of which are of the ninth magnitude, with an exposure of three minutes. an exposure of one second gives a strong impression of Castor, and the smaller star is quite visible with half a second. With the achromatic objective it was necessary to expose Castor ten seconds to obtain a satisfactory result.
The great obstacle which prevents the results of photography from realising the achievements of vision is atmospheric disturbance. In looking at an object the impression is formed from the revelations of the best moments, and it is often the case that the eye can clearly detect the duplicity of a star, although the whole object is dancing and oscillating over a space greater than its distance. The photograph possesses no such power of accommodation, and the image is a mean of all the conditions during exposure. It is, therefore, only on rare nights in our climate that the picture will approach the revelations of the eye.
Since the completion of the photographic objective, but one night has occurred (the 6th of March) with a fine atmosphere, and on that occasion the instrument was occupied with the moon; so that as yet I have not tested its powers upon the close double stars, 2” being the nearest pair it has been tried upon. This distance is quite manageable, provided the stars are of nearly equal magnitude. The power to obtain images of the ninth magnitude stars with so moderate an aperture promises to develop and increase the application of photography to the mapping of the sidereal heavens, and in some measure to realise the hopes which have so long been deferred and disappointed.
It would not be difficult to arrange a camera box capable of exposing a surface sufficient to obtain a map of two degrees square; and with instruments of large aperture we may hope to reach much smaller stars than I have yet taken. There is also every probability that the chemistry of photography will be very much improved, and more sensitive methods devised.
On the 6th of March the negatives of the moon were remarkably fine, being superior in sharpness to any I have yet seen. The exposure for that phase, three days after the first quarter, is from two to three seconds, and for the full moon about one quarter of a second.
The success of the telescopic objective has encouraged me to hope that an almost equal improvement may be made for photography in the microscope, which instrument is more favourably situated for definition than the telescope, since it is independent of atmospheric conditions. its achromatic status is easily examined by the spectroscope, using as a star the solar image reflected from a minute globule of mercury. Mr. Wales is now constructing for me a one-tenth objective, which, upon his new plan, is to be provided with a tube so arranged as to admit of the removal of the rear combination, and, in place of the one ordinarily used, one is to be substituted at will, which shall bring to one focus the actinic rays. Lewis M. Rutherfurd
1865: BJP June 3, vol. XII, #269, p. 345:
Miscellanea [selection]
Book Illustration by Photography.—A life of the late Mr. Cobden, by Mr. M’Gilchrist, with four photographs—a portrait, and views of Dunford, Midhurst, and West Lavington Churchyard—will shortly be published.
1865: BJP June 3, vol. XII, #269, p. 348:
London Gazette, June 23.
BANKRUPT:
W. N. Tollerton, Lincoln, photographic artist, July 12, Kingston-upon-Hull.
NOTICE OF SITTING FOR LAST EXAMINATION:
G. Sadler, Cardiff, photographic artist, July 17.
1865: BJP June 30, vol. XII, #269, p. v:
Ad: Important Sale of Photographic and Scientific Apparatus.
Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge will sell by auction, at 13, Wellington Street, Strand, W.C., on Tuesday, July 11th, 1865, a Valuable Collection of Cameras, Lenses, and Photographic Appliances, by the first Makers in Europe; Achromatic Oxy-hydrogen Lanterns, Scientific and other Magic Lantern Slides, by Highley, Carpemter and Westley, &c.; Large Air Pump, and a First-class Bi-Prism Spectroscope, with eight-inch divided Circle, by Highley; with other Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus, Microscopes, &c., chiefly the property of the late Henry Bath, Esq. of Swansea.—Catalogues now ready, post free 2 stamps. May be viewed the day prior to sale.
1865: BJP July 7, vol. XII, #270, p. 358:
MISCELLANEA: [selection]
--Photography in Russia. –M. Dernier the Court Photographer at St. Petersburg, has been graciously permitted to publish a monthly photographic album, containing portraits of the Royal family, eminent dignitaries of the state and church, heroes of the Caucasus, &c., and of the most eminent literary and artistic celebrities of the empire. This is a significant step in a country where photographers have hitherto been looked upon with grave anxiety by a paternal government like that of Russia.
--South London Photographic Society. –The first out-of-door meeting of this Society for the season was held on Saturday last. The place selected for visitation was Beckenham, a short distance from the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. Owing to the heavy rain which had fallen the two days previously, and the threatened continuance of the showers on the morning of the day of the excursion, the members turned out in fewer numbers than was desirable. In the evening the excursionists were joined by an equal number of their fellow-members at the hospitable board of the Rev. F. F. Statham, M.A., F.G.S., &c., President of the Society, where they spent a very pleasant evening.
--Exhibition of Photographs.—Mr. C.T. Newcombe, of Fenchurch-street and Regent-street, has opened at his Fenchurch-street establishment an exhibition of photographs of British scenery, comprising views in London, Windsor, Eton, Harrow, Kenilworth, Warwick, Stratford-on-Avon, Chepstow, Isle of Wight, Bettws-y-Coed, Llangollen, Ludlow, Sussex, and other places. There are altogether about 300 pictures, mostly taken during the summer of 1863 with wet collodion. As might reasonably have been expected in such a large collection, the pictures are of various degrees of merit—some being very fine, others not so good. Among the former we rank the greater number of the Bettws-y-Coed views, several of which—for example, Pont-y-Pridd Bridge and Falls—are among the finest which we have seen taken of this particular subject, being alike good n the selection of the point of view and in the photographic manipulation. In some of the pictures, as in the East Window, Tintern Abbey, the beauty is slightly marred by the convergence of the vertical parallel lines caused by tilting the camera upwards; while in others the foreground occupies somewhat more space than is altogether desirable. Among those of this class we might select Martin’s Tower, Chepstow, and some interiors of Vale Crucis Abbey, as examples. The collection, as a whole, contains many good pictures, is highly interesting, and evinces no small degree of activity on the part of Mr. Newcombe.
1865: BJP July 7, vol. XII, #270, p. 362:
Destruction of Scientific Property by Fire – In our last number an advertisement appeared announcing the sale of the library and valuable collection of photographic apparatus of the late Henry Bath, Esq., of Swansea, at Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge’s auction rooms, 13, Wellington-street, Strand; but on Thursday last their premises were destroyed by fire, while upwards of £50,000 worth of literary and scientific property was awaiting sale. We are happy to learn, however, that the most valuable portion of Mr. Bath’s apparatus, such as the large collection of lenses and magic lantern slides, was at the premises of Mr. Highley, of Green-street, who had the arrangement of the sale. The greater portion of the scientific library, however, was destroyed; and in this section Mr. Highley himself is a great sufferer. The sale of the rescued apparatus will take place on the day previously fixed, but at the Gallery, 21, Wellington-street, Strand.
1865: BJP July 7, vol. XII, #270, p. 362:
The Pritchard Family—We have received from Messrs. Cramb, of Glasgow, the portrait of Dr. E. W. Pritchard, who is at present being tried at Edinburgh for the murder of his wife and mother-in-law. So far as it is possible to deduce character from physiognomy, Dr. Pritchard is among the last who would be adjuged capable of committing the crimes charged against him; for the mild placidity of his countenance and the benevolent expression of his features would appear to indicate that he was not a person against whom such a charge could be made. As a photograph the portrait possesses much merit, and reflects credit on the artists. Accompanying the picture referred to are portraits, both singly and grouped, of Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Pritchard (whom Dr. Pritchard is alleged to have poisoned), together with an interesting group of the other members of the family.
1865: BJP July 7, vol. XII, #270, p. 362:
London Gazette, June 30.
Notice of Sitting for Last Examination.
D. Rees, Cheapside, and Union Square, Southwark, photographer, August 4.
1865: BJP July 14, vol. XII, #271, p. 371:
Miscellanea: [selection]
--Messrs. Hills and Saunders, of Eton, had the honour of attending at Windsor Castle on Saturday, for the purpose of taking photographic portraits of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and the infant Prince.
--One of the Latest Photographs of the Queen—During Her Majesty’s recent sojourn at Balmoral, a two-handed spinning wheel was ordered from that celebrated expert, Mr. Stewart, of Spitalfields. So highly pleased was Her Majesty with the taste and skill displayed in the workmanship, that it has been forwarded to Windsor Castle; but before doing so, a photograph of Her Majesty, sitting at the wheel, was graciously allowed to be taken by the court photographer.
--Photography at Wimbledon.—Wherever men “do congregate” there is photography sure to be represented. At the Wimbledon gathering it has, this year, a most able representative in the person of Mr. Vernon Heath, who, we doubt not, will be able to furnish our enthusiastic riflemen with charming souvenirs of the pleasant days they spent in camp. There are also several members of the “black art” fraternity who, for the nonce, have deserted their dark rooms and chemicals and seem determined to enjoy a gipsy’s life on the beautiful common, and the doubtful pleasure of being half-eaten by ants and earwigs under canvas.
1865: BJP July 28, vol. XII, #273, p. v.:
ADS: [selection]
--Messrs. Catherall & Pritchard – Beg to announce that they are preparing for Publication a New Series for Stereoscope and Album, by Mr. Francis Bedford, Illustrative of Clifton, Clevedon, Weston-Super-Mare, the Scenery of the Coast of North and South Devon and Exeter. [Note – this is the 1st and only time the ad has been located so far]
1865: BJP Oct. 27, vol. XII, #286, p. 549
Our Editorial Table. [selection]
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ECLIPSE OF THE MOON. By A. Brothers, F.R.A.S., Manchester.
It will be remembered that we have previously indicated (ante page 527) the fact of Mr. Brothers’ having taken a series of twenty instantaneous negatives of the moon, during the recent eclipse (on Oct. 4th) of our satellite. We have just received from Mr. Brothers a ser of the prints from the negatives referred to.
Commencing at 8.45, when the moon was nearly full, the negatives, twenty in number, were taken at intervals of about twelve minutes until 12.45, and they show the progress of the eclipse throughout. The effect of the penumbral shadow of the earth is distinctly visible on the negative taken at 9.15, and also on the one taken at 12.32. An attempt was made during the middle of the eclipse to obtain the photographic image of the entire surface of the moon; but it was found that the portion covered by the earth’s shadow had no effect on the plate after an exposure of fifteen seconds, although distinctly visible in the telescope. It was noticed that the southern limb of the moon showed the copper-coloured tint often seen during total lunar eclipses, and to this cause may be attributed the non-actinic effect on the sensitised plate. An exposure of about one or two tenths of a second gave the fully-illuminated surface of the moon perfectly, but the parts covered by the penumbra were not defined, while an exposure of three seconds gave the outline of the earth’s shadow with great distinctness, and an exposure of two seconds brought out some of the detail within the penumbra. Some of the negatives were obtained almost instantaneously.
The telescope with which these pictures of the moon were taken is an equatorial of 5 inches aperture and 6 feet focal length, driven by clockwork. This telescope gives the image of the moon about 11/18th of an inch in diameter; but by using a Barlow’s lens this size is increased to 1 ¼ inch, and with this addition the eighteenth negative of the series was obtained in two seconds.
The photographs are very excellent, although this must be considered as the first attempt of Mr. Brothers at celestial photography, all his former experiments having been devoted to ascertaining, with accuracy, the difference between the chemical and visual foci of his object-glass; for we need scarcely observe that in the best telescopes—unlike photographic lenses in this respect—the chemical and visual foci do not coincide.
Astronomers will extend a cordial welcome to this new worker in the field of astronomical photography.