Circe

Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India
1865
Not on view
"My aspirations are to ennoble Photography," wrote Cameron, "and to secure for it the character and uses of High Art by combining the real & Ideal...."

Rather than strive for superficial accuracy in costume and setting, Cameron sought to record through the faces of her family and friends the qualities of innocence, wisdom, piety, or passion ascribed to great biblical, historical, and legendary figures. Unconcerned with technical perfection in her prints, Cameron used a long exposure and shallow depth of field to give that slight sense of animation--of breath--that merges the young girl with her mythic character and seems to bring her into the viewer's presence.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Circe
  • Artist: Julia Margaret Cameron (British (born India), Calcutta 1815–1879 Kalutara, Ceylon)
  • Date: 1865
  • Medium: Albumen silver print from glass negative
  • Dimensions: 25.3 x 20.1 cm. (9 15/16 x 7 15/16 in.)
  • Classification: Photographs
  • Credit Line: Bequest of James David Nelson, in memory of Samuel J. Wagstaff Jr., 1988
  • Object Number: 1990.1074.4
  • Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.