Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and other Poems

Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India

1874

Not on view

In 1874 Tennyson asked Cameron to make photographic illustrations for a new edition of his Idylls of the King, a recasting of the Arthurian legends. Responding that both knew that “it is immortality to me to be bound up with you,” Cameron willingly accepted the assignment. Costuming family and friends, she made some 245 exposures to arrive at the handful she wanted for the book. Ultimately—and predictably—she was unhappy with the way her photographs looked reduced in scale and translated into wood engravings, and she chose to issue a deluxe edition, at her own risk, that included a dozen full size photographic prints in each of two volumes.

Artwork Details

Title: Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King, and other Poems
Artist: Julia Margaret Cameron (British (born India), Calcutta 1815–1879 Kalutara, Ceylon)
Date: 1874
Medium: Albumen silver prints
Dimensions: 45.4 x 35.5 x 2.4 cm (17 7/8 x 14 x 15/16 in.), closed
Classification: Books
Credit Line: David Hunter McAlpin Fund, 1952
Object Number: 52.524.3.1–.12
Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

By Julia Margaret Cameron

In the same medium

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And Enid Sang, Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India, Albumen silver print from glass negative — And Enid Sang
Julia Margaret Cameron
September 1874

Vivien and Merlin, Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India, Albumen silver print from glass negative — Vivien and Merlin
Julia Margaret Cameron
1874

Enid, Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India, Albumen silver print from glass negative — Enid
Julia Margaret Cameron
September 1874

The Parting of Lancelot and Guinevere, Julia Margaret Cameron British, born India, Albumen silver print from glass negative — The Parting of Lancelot and Guinevere
Julia Margaret Cameron
1874

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