Don Quixote in His Study

William Frederick Lake Price|J. Spencer

1857 · Albumen silver print from glass negative · Photographs

This carefully staged tableau was among the most widely admired Victorian photographs. Price self-consciously sought to elevate the still-new medium to the level of "high art" by emulating the ambitious literary subjects, expressive gestures, and period details of grand history painting. Although this approach was largely overshadowed in subsequent years by one that championed qualities unique to photographic vision, theatrical staging has found renewed relevance in the work of many contemporary artists.

Artist

William Frederick Lake Price|J. Spencer

Date

1857

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gift of A. Hyatt Mayor, 1969