British Museum Photographs by Stephen Thompson c1868 - Antique Art History Book

The British Museum Photographs - 28 Albumen Prints Of Famous Artworks - Each Page Measures 50.5cm x 38cm

By Stephen Thompson

Published by The British Museum c1868

Includes Photographic Prints Of (as examples):

• The Vision Of Ezekial by Raphael
• Moses Defending the Daughters of Jethro by Nicolas Poussin
• Shoeing by Landseer
• Highland Breakfast by Landseer
• An Election by William Hogarth
• Judith With The Severed Head Of Holofernes by Allori
• The Waterseller of Seville by Diego Velázquez
• Time of War and Time of Peace by Landseer
• Old Shepherds Chief Mourner by Landseer

"Sir Henry Cole, the visionary first director of the Museum, saw early on the potential of photography to dramatically extend the visual range of resources available to artists and students. In 1856 he appointed Charles Thurston Thompson as ‘Official Museum Photographer' and the ‘first museum photographic service' came into being. Photographs such as these were originally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education. They were valued as reference tools for students and professionals of art, architecture and design. They are now also viewed as significant artefacts in the history of the art of photography.

With the sudden death of Charles Thurston Thompson in 1868, Stephen Thompson (no relation), a commercial photographer who had carried out photographic work for the British Museum, wrote to the Department of Science and Art applying for the post of 'Official Photographer'. Thompson was informed by the board of the Department that the intention was to 'abolish' the position. While this might have been the intention, this was not exactly the case as records indicate that Thurston Thompson's sister, Isabel Agnes Cowper, assumed many of his responsibilities, possibility the first woman to hold such a role. Little is known about Cowper, but in her letter of resignation in 1891, she refers to herself as the Museum's 'Official Photographer'. Cowper held the post for twenty-three years retiring in 1891."