Cathedral at Orléans
In 1840 Talbot devised a negative/positive process that allowed multiple prints of a single image--the procedural basis of nearly all photography since. Talbot's negatives were made of thin writing paper; the fibrous texture obscured some detail, but it imparted softness and a graded tonality to the resulting print.
This photograph, showing the upper levels of one tower of Orléans Cathedral, was made on June 7, 1843, when Talbot was en route to Paris to sell the French rights to his patented process. Because he was unsuccessful in this enterprise, the French did not make paper photographs for another decade.
This photograph, showing the upper levels of one tower of Orléans Cathedral, was made on June 7, 1843, when Talbot was en route to Paris to sell the French rights to his patented process. Because he was unsuccessful in this enterprise, the French did not make paper photographs for another decade.
Artwork Details
- Title: Cathedral at Orléans
- Artist: William Henry Fox Talbot (British, Dorset 1800–1877 Lacock)
- Date: June 21, 1843
- Medium: Salted paper print from paper negative
- Dimensions: 16.3 x 20.2 cm. (6 7/16 x 7 15/16 in.)
- Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Purchase, Barbara Schwartz Gift, in memory of Eugene M. Schwartz, and Rogers Fund, 1996
- Object Number: 1996.5
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
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William Henry Fox Talbot
1844
William Henry Fox Talbot
1845
William Henry Fox Talbot
before March 22, 1844
William Henry Fox Talbot
before June 1845
William Henry Fox Talbot
before September 1844
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