Prince Albert collected photographs of places significant to him
Arthur James Melhuish (1829-95)
Thames Street, Windsor 1854-56
Salted paper print | 38.2 x 49.0 cm (image) | RCIN 2100349
Photograph of Thames Street in Windsor with the Castle Wall and Curfew Tower on the left and the facades of buildings and shops on the right.
Thames Street must have been alive with traffic and pedestrians when this photograph was taken, yet we are presented with an unnaturally empty scene. This was one of the problems encountered when using the relatively insensitive waxed paper process which required lengthy exposure times. Moving objects were not still long enough to be imprinted on the negative and, therefore, became invisible. This created one of the paradoxes of early photography: images appeared to be accurate in terms of their detail, however, the technology used undermined the truth of the representation.
Thames Street must have been alive with traffic and pedestrians when this photograph was taken, yet we are presented with an unnaturally empty scene. This was one of the problems encountered when using the relatively insensitive waxed paper process which required lengthy exposure times. Moving objects were not still long enough to be imprinted on the negative and, therefore, became invisible. This created one of the paradoxes of early photography: images appeared to be accurate in terms of their detail, however, the technology used undermined the truth of the representation.
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Creator(s)
Arthur James Melhuish (1829-95) (photographer)
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38.2 x 49.0 cm (image)
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View of the Castle wall along Thames Street in Windsor, Curfew Tower to left of street. [Photographic Views of Windsor by Arthur Melhuish. 1856]
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Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
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Object type(s)
- visual works
- photographs
- albums
- photograph albums
Subject(s)
- Places
- Europe
- Great Britain
- England
- Berkshire [England]
- Windsor [Berkshire]
- Windsor Castle
- Lower Ward [Windsor Castle]
- Curfew Tower [Windsor Castle]
- Lower Ward [Windsor Castle]
- Thames Street [Windsor]
- Windsor Castle
- Windsor [Berkshire]
- Berkshire [England]
- England
- Great Britain
- Europe
- Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
- Architecture
- Architectural design
- Façades
- Architectural design
- Architecture
- visual works
In Partnership with
The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.