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Glass plate negatives

Albert and Victoria’s collection of glass plate negatives show photographers’ working methods

CUNDALL & HOWLETT

Pipe Major John McDonald

1856

Wet collodion negative | 25.3 x 20.3 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2084911

10" x 8" glass plate negative showing Pipe Major John McDonald standing facing half to the left, playing the bagpipes. He is wearing Scottish military uniform including a kilt and sporran. A flag hangs from the top of the bagpipes.

Pipe Major John McDonald served with the 72nd (Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders) Regiment of Foot during the Crimean War. Throughout the war Queen Victoria had taken an active interest in the welfare of the troops and on their return from the Crimea she met a number of the veterans at Buckingham Palace, Chatham Military Hospital and Aldershot Garrison. Following these meetings she commissioned a series of photographs of the veterans from the photographers Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett. 

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative do not seem to exist in the Collection but a variant is represented by RCIN 2500221.

  • Creator(s)

    Cundall & Howlett (photographer)

  • 25.3 x 20.3 cm (whole object)

  • Commissioned by Queen Victoria

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Clothing
          • Costume
            • Uniforms
              • Military uniforms
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Military engineering
          • Arms (weapons)
            • Firearms
              • Rifles
    • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
      • Music
        • Musical instruments
          • Wind instruments
            • Bagpipes
    • Social sciences
      • Military affairs
        • Wars, Campaigns & Battles
          • Wars
            • Wars of the nineteenth century
              • Crimean War (1853-1856)