This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

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Glass plate negatives

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

ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS PEARCE (ACTIVE C. 1850S)

Portrait of a young girl

c. 1857

RCIN 2082570

Glass plate negative of a full length portrait of an unknown young girl seated in a wooden stool, facing towards the camera and looking ahead. She poses against a wall and wears a a patterned dress and a light coloured apron. Photograph taken at Balmoral.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. A print from this negative exists in the Collection, RCIN 2800791.

  • Creator(s)

    Attributed to Thomas Pearce (active c. 1850s) (photographer)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • Scotland
            • Aberdeenshire [Scotland]
              • Balmoral Estate [Aberdeenshire]
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
          • negatives
            • glass plate negatives
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