Sir John Herschel

Julia Margaret Cameron

April 1867 · Albumen silver print from glass negative · Photographs

No commercial portrait photographer of the period would have portrayed Herschel as Cameron did here, devoid of classical columns, weighty tomes, scientific attributes, and academic poses—the standard vehicles for conveying the high stature and classical learning that one’s sitter possessed (or pretended to possess). To Cameron, Herschel was more than a renowned scientist; he was “as a Teacher and High Priest,” an “illustrious and revered as well as beloved friend” whom she had known for thirty years. Naturally, her image of him would not be a stiff, formal effigy. Instead, she had him wash and tousle his hair to catch the light, draped him in black, brought her camera close to his face, and photographed him emerging from the darkness like a vision of an Old Testament prophet.

Artist

Julia Margaret Cameron

Date

April 1867

Medium

Albumen silver print from glass negative

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gift of William Rubel, 2013