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Prince Albert used photography to document exhibitions and works of art

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Photographs of Decorative Arts in the Royal Collection 1853-55

Leather and cloth bound album | 40 x 30 x 3 cm (album) | RCIN 2369546

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Green cloth and leather bound album containing 26 photographs (RCINs 2369547-2369572) of items of furniture, many of which are now in the Royal Collection, held at Windsor Castle. The objects photographed include tables, chairs, desks, vases, bronze sculpture, cabinets, clocks and light shades. Many of the photographs appear to have been taken outside.

Some, if not all of the objects photographed, were displayed at Gore House in 1853. Thompson was commissioned to photograph the display at Gore House, a display of loaned items including items purchased from the Great Exhibition and other objects loaned from the Royal Collection, Waddesdon Manor, and elsewhere. Gore House was part of the estate purchased by the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, following the Great Exhibition. The house was used by the schools of Science and Art, and also hosted exhibitions until it was demolished in 1857. The grounds were absorbed into the Horticultural Society. Today the site of Gore House is occupied by the Royal Albert Hall, and the grounds by the Imperial Institute.
  • Creator(s)

    Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68) (photographer)

  • 40 x 30 x 3 cm (album)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • printed & manuscript material
        • books
          • book: half leather bound
            • book: half leather bound in morocco
              • book: half leather bound in green morocco
          • book: all edges gilt
      • visual works
        • photographs
        • albums
          • photograph albums
    Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Home economics
        • Furniture & accessories
          • Furniture
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Precision mechanisms & instruments
          • Cameras
    • Organisation
      • Form of documents
        • Indexes
          • Inventories

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Table and vase

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two sculpted figures

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet and vases

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Chair

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two chairs

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Set of drawers and epergne

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Three boxes and display cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two sideboards

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two candelabras

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Sideboard

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two clocks

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Two clocks

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Table and trunk

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Lamp

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Metal objects

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

English mirror

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Cabinet

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Table, plinth and sculpture

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Console table and vases

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Chair

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Detail of chair

Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68)

Armchair