The History of Photography From the Earliest Use of the Camera Obscura in the Eleventh Century up to 1914

600 Pages·1969·116.84 MB·English

by  Helmut Gernsheim

lNlOlRlFfOJL RK lClOJLLIJEGIE RlLIBlRfAR Y
II
'<::::
5i
'l'HE COLLEGE of West Anglia
C
�� Tennyson Avenue • King's Lynn
�
Tel: (0 I 553) 761 144 Ext: 306
MAR
..,. . .,
115. 200Z
l: ·· CELL�-Li 1 · tiH1�
lf&'C.BJJ!OO;uf
SEP���b�C:i ; __ .� \ 7 JU� T.,.; ,
�CT 20, 2
, 12
=
7 NOV 2003
LEARNING Centre
The card holder is responsible for the return of this book
Fines will be charged on ALL late items

The History of
PHOTOGRA PHY
_ui'Jr!NED
TO
t,i{g� 8 .
. '-''
'.�, ;�-.-��-
-��.. .. -=""f.
Fig
The History of
PHOTOGRAPHY
from the camera obscura to the beginning of the modern era
CONFINEO
TO
HELMUT GERNSHEIM
LIB&A&7
in collaboration with
ALISON GERNSHEIM
with photographs and engravings
390
�
-Iii.TI! Al'lD TECHNOl..OOY LI l:UIA•
lUNCi'S l Y NN.. T&H
�
THAMES AND HUDSON LONDON
·
In honour and loving memory of
ALISON GERNSHEIM
whose tragic death on March 1969
2 7
has deprived me-after years of marriage­
2 7
of a wondetful companion, an ideal collaborator
and a wise counsellor
)
2.8. 651
NOP.FOLK EDUCATION CQ!'l"'lr""
THE coU�JT ,,' 1c' c• HNiCA.I..
COLLl::GL LIBRA!'-\'
l(ll"IG'S LYNN.
First published in 1955 by the Oxford University Press
This revised and enlarged edition© 1969 Helmut and Alison Gernsheim
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers
Filmset by V. Siviter Smith & Co. Ltd., Birmingham
Illustrations reproduced in Germany by Klischeewerkstatten der Industriedienst, Wiesbaden
Printed in Switzerland by Imprimeries Reunies S.A., Lausanne
Bound in Holland by Van Rijmenam N.V., The Hague
500 OI060 9
C ONTENTS
page
Foreword
II
Introduction
I3
I THE PREHISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY I5
The history of the camera obscura
1 I7
Origin in the darkened room with small hole for the observation of solar eclipses-gradual
improvement oft he images by the addition oflenses and diaphragms-use by artists- scioptric
ball. Portable camera obscura for drawing-tent type-disguised camera obscuras-small
box and retl.ex cameras ready for photography in 1685-popularity of the camera obscura
as an aid in painting and scientific illustration in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries
-sedan chair, table, and miniature cameras-camera lucida.
Photochemical investigations
2 30
Darkening of silver salts by light not known to the alchemists-Schulze produces light
images on carbonate of silver in 1725-secret writing with nitrate of silver-light sensitivity
of silver chloride-Dr Lewis a link between Schulze and Wedgwood-Scheele discovers
ammonia as fixing agent and that violet rays are chemically the most active-discovery of
infra-red and ultra-violet rays-Schulze's observation widely disseminated.
Phantoms of photography
3 35
'Giphantie', a forecast-Lord Brougham's claim-Professor Charles's silhouettes.
4 The first conception of photography
37
Josiah Wedgwood's camera obscura-the Lunar Society-Thomas Wedgwood's photo­
graphic experiments-Sir Humphry Davy's collaboration-publication of their results in
1802-successful only by superposition, not in the camera-inability to fix images-a mythical
account of Wedgwood's photography-dissemination of his experiments.
II THE INVENTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY 53
Heliography
5 55
Nicephore Niepce's first attempts at photography-partially fixed paper photographs­
advance on Wedgwood-Heliographic copy of an engraving, 1822-bitumen of Judea
process on glass and metal-the world's first photograph, 826-its subsequent history
I
and rediscovery-Niepce's communication to the Royal Society-partnership with Daguerre
to exploit Heliography-later perfected by Niepce de Saint-Victor-Niepce's cameras.
6 Contents
6 The daguerreotype
Daguerre's Diorama-attempts to make the images of the camera obscura permanent­
discovery of the development of the latent image, and a means of fixation-first successful
daguerreotype, 1837-attempts to exploit the process-patronage of Arago-French Govern­
ment acquires the daguerreotype process, 1839-pensions for Daguerre and Niepce's son­
publication of the process-fears of artists-'Daguerreotypomania' -disadvantages of the
daguerreotype-daguerreotype outfits.
Negative/positive processes on paper
7 75
Photogenic Drawing-Fox Talbot's sketching with camera lucida and camera obscura
leads to desire to fix images by chemical means-experiments with silver chloride paper­
contact copies and camera views-earliest surviving paper negative, 183 5-photomicro­
graphs-announcement of Photogenic Drawing, 1839-positive prints-public indifference
to the invention-photographic cameras and paper on sale-discovery of the latent image,
1840, speeds up the process-the calotype-Talbot's cameras.
8 Direct positives on paper
Hippolyte Bayard-negatives and direct positives made in the came�a early in. 1839-
Bayard's photographs exhibited-discouraged by Arago-process not divulged until 1840
-dispute over priority-other direct positive paper processes.
9 Other independent inventors
88
Friedrich Gerber-direct positive and negative/positive camera photographs on paper­
contact copies-suggestion of photography for book illustration-photomicrographs.
Rev. ]. B. Reade's solar mezzotints, contact copies, camera photographs, and photo­
micrographs-his discovery patented by Talbot-witness in Talbot versus Laroche trial.
Kob ell and Steinheil's camera photographs, 18 39-Sir John Herschel's independent invention
of photography-'hypo' -origin of the words 'photograph', 'negative', 'positive' -photo­
graph on glass.
III THE EARLY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 113
The daguerreotype in France
10 115
Travelling daguerreotypists-Excursions Daguerriennes-attempts at portraiture-Lerebours'
and Bissons' studios-instantaneous views-zenith of popularity 1847-panoramic views­
increasing popularity of paper photography.
The daguerreotype in America
11 120
First daguerreotype in New World-Morse's and Draper's experiments-earliest portraits­
Daguerre's agent in America-Gouraud's daguerreotype exhibition in New York-advice on
taking portraits-Wolcott's mirror camera-world's first photographic portrait studio­
Morse and Draper's portrait studio-daguerrotypes of Yucatan, California and Rocky
Mountains-Brady's 'Gallery of Illustrious Americans' -zenith of popularity 185 3 -the first
photographic journal-American daguerreotypes at the Great Exhibition.
The daguerreotype in Great Britain
12 130
Legality of Daguerre's English patent-absence of amateur daguerreotypists-exhibitions
and demonstrations-Claudet the first licensee-exposure too long for portraiture-speeded
up by Wolcott's mirror camera and acceleration with bromine-first public portrait studio
March 1841 -Beard purchases the patent-acceleration with chlorine-rivalry of Beard
and Claudet-colouring daguerreotypes-painted backgrounds-red darkroom light­
hints on sitter's dress and expression-retarding influence of the patents-lawsuit Beard versus
Egerton-Beard's bankruptcy-Claudet's 'temple to photography' -other London studios­
the daguerreotype in the provinces-Thomas Davidson's portrait lens and metal daguerreo­
type camera-Scottish studios-cost of outfit and chemicals.
Contents 7
The daguerreotype in German-speaking countries
13 155
Introduction of the daguerreotype in Berlin-Steinheil's miniature camera-first portrait in
Germany-Petzval's portrait lens-Kratochwila's chemical acceleration-Voigtlander camera
-first studio in Vienna-Daguerreotype Club in Vienna-first portrait studio in Berlin­
Biow and Stelzner's studio, Hamburg-earliest news photographs-Biow's 'National
Gallery of Photographic Portraits' -Leipzig portraitists-first exhibition of portraits by
J. B. Isenring-Isenring's 'Sonnenwagen'-Mollinger's Swiss views.
14 The calotype and other paper processes in Great Britain
162
Lack of popularity of the calotype-irksome patent restrictions-Talbot's motives in
patenting-Collen the first professional calotypist-introduction of retouching-Claudet's
calotype portraits-the calotype in Scotland-first calotype portrait, May 1841-D. 0. Hill
and R. Adamson's calotype portraits and views. Other processes-blueprints-the Reading
printing establishment-The Pencil of Nature' -'Sun Pictures in Scotland' -Henneman's
portrait studio-fading-the Calotype Club-criticism of Talbot's patents-photography at
the Great Exhibition-partial relaxation of the calotype patent-first photographic exhibition
in Britain-establishment of the Photographic Society-the golden period of photography
on paper-cameras for the paper processes-cost of apparatus and materials.
15 Photography on paper in other countries
185
The calotype in Germany, Austria, America, and France. Blanquart-Evrard's process­
his printing establishment at Lille-early French photographically illustrated books­
Maxime Du Camp's eastern tour-Gustave Le Gray's waxed paper process-the Societe
Heliographique-work for the Committee of Historic Monuments-genre photography­
Victor Hugo in exile.
The introduction of photography on glass
194
Early experiments on glass-albumen process of Niepce de Saint-Victor-albumen paper­
enormous consumption of eggs-invention of the collodicin process by Scott Archer­
injustice to Archer, the true inventor-Talbot claims the collodion process-lawsuit Talbot
versus Laroche results in freeing photography from the patent.
IV THE COLLODION PERIOD 229
17 The popularization of photography
231
Instruction in photography-relative popularity of the different processes-establishment
of new photographic societies.
18 Portrait photography-a new industry
234
Increase in professional photographers-retouching-charges for portraits-ambrotypes,
melainotypes, and ferrotypes-the cheap trader-low-class street photographers-cost of
materials.
19 'High art' photography
243
Exaggerated claims for photography as an art-Baudelaire's diatribe-fanciful compositions
by Lake Price, Rejlander, Robinson, and Julia Margaret Cameron-cliche-verre.
Stereoscopic photography
20 253
Binocular vision-Wheatstone's reflecting stereoscope-Brewster's lenticular stereoscope­
stereoscopic daguerreotypes-Claudet's stereoscopic instruments-Brewster's attacks on
Wheatstone-mass-production of stereo photographs-the optical wonder of the age-the
poor man's picture gallery-decline and revival of stereoscopy-anagiyphs-stereoscopic and
other small cameras.
8 Contents
21 Instantaneous photography
Instantaneous street views with traffic-photographs with clouds-Le Gray's seascapes­
printing-in clouds-Wit.son's 'Scottish Gems'.
22 News photography
266
Royal occasions and other events-Fenton's and Robertson's documentations of the
Crimean War-Beato's photographs of the Indian Mutiny and the Opium War-French
documentation of Italian/Austrian War-the American Civil War-the Franco-Prussian
War and Paris Commune.
23 Landscape and architectural photography
275
The travelling photographer's burden-rebuilding of the Crystal Palace-the Architectural
Photographic Association-topographical books illustrated with photographs-the Society
for Photographing the Relics of Old London-leading French, German and Italian photo­
graphers-Clifford's 'Voyage en Espagne' -Frith's and Bedford's journeys in the Near East­
photography in India and the Far East-pioneers of the American West-mountain photo­
graphy in the Alps and Himalayas.
The carte-de-visite period
293
Who introduced the carte?-its popularization due to Disderi-the collecting mania-fortunes
made by cartes-stereotyped poses-studio properties-the photograph album-tax on
photographs-carte novelties-carte-de-visite cameras-Cabinet and other new formats.
25 Some famous portrait photographers
Thomas Annan-Julia Margaret Cameron-Nadar-Carjat-Adam Salomon-Lewis Carroll­
Mathew Brady.
26 Mammoth and miniature photographs
311
Early enlargers-the solar camera and other enlargers-enlarging services-life-size enlarge­
ments-giant cameras-photographic panoramas. Reduction-forecast of microfilm docu­
mentation-microphotographs-microphotographic jewellery-the pigeon post during the
Siege of Paris-use of microphotographs in spying.
27 The evolution of dry plates
322
A dry period at photographic societies-preservative or dry collodion processes-'culinary
period' -collodio-albumen process-first commercially produced plates-tannin process­
alkaline development-collodion emulsion dry plates-early attempts at photography with
gelatine-publication of gelatine emulsion by Dr Maddox, 1871-important improvements
by Burgess, Kennett, and Bennett-large-scale production of dry plates-the gelatine dry
plate supersedes collodion-prices of plates-orthochromatic and panchromatic emulsions.
28 Permanent photographs
335
Fading of silver prints-the Fading Committee-Sutton's printing establishment-pigment
printing with chromic salts-Mungo Ponton's discovery of the light-sensitivity of bi­
chromate of potash-Poitevin's carbon processes-Swan's perfected carbon process and
photomezzotint-Woodburytype-Stannotype. Photographs on porcelain, glass and
enamel-Ivorytypes-photographs on silk and linen-uranium printing-Wothlytype­
platinotype.
V THE GELATINE PERIOD 397
29 Emulsion papers and mass-production printing
399
Collodio-chloride and gelatine bromide paper-developed and printjng-out gelatine
chloride paper-gelatine chloro-bromide paper-mass-production printing-conditions of
labour-G. W. Wilson's printing establishment-automatic printing machines.