Albert and Victoria’s collection of glass plate negatives show photographers’ working methods
'Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1784-1844)'
1861Wet collodion negative | RCIN 2083093
Glass plate negative of a daguerreotype of Prince Albert's father, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
The daguerreotype is the only known photographic portrait of Prince Albert's father. The daguerreotype was casually found by Ernest II, eldest son of Ernest I, in Gotha. Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia, later sent it to her father, Prince Albert, to be photographed in England. Prince Albert was 'quite overwhelmed' on receiving this precious souvenir of his father, and immediately had it copied. This glass plate negative illustrates how Prince Albert had the work copied.
The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Several prints of the work exist in the Royal Collection, including RCIN 55314.
Creator(s)
Unknown Person (photographer)
Subject(s)
Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1784-1844)- From the collection of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria
Object type(s)
- visual works
- photographs
- negatives
- glass plate negatives
- negatives
- photographs
- visual works
