The photographic news

• Bandzählung: 7.1863
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1863
• Sprache: Englisch
• Signatur: F 135
• Vorlage: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Rechtehinweis: Public Domain Mark 1.0
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-db-id1780948042-186300004
• PURL: http://digital.slub-dresden.de/id1780948042-18630000
• OAI: oai:de:slub-dresden:db:id-1780948042-18630000
• Sammlungen: LDP: Historische Bestände der Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
• Sammlungen: Fotografie
• Strukturtyp: Band

• Digitalisat: SLUB Dresden
• Strukturtyp: Ausgabe

102 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [FEBRUARY 27, 1863. assembled, but had the hall been able to accommodate twice the number, it is probable that it would have been filled, the demand for tickets being so great; but the Council deemed it better to limit the number to as many as could be comfortably accommo dated. It would be well if this example were more often followed, for the practice is too general of issuing twice as many tickets as there is accommodation for, and the crush and squeez ing often entirely spoils the pleasure of the meeting. The handsome hall was decorated with an extensive and choice collection of photographs by the most celebrated artists of Eng land and Scotland, also a quantity of apparatus contributed by Dallmeyer, Ross and other distinguished makers. The meeting was presided over by Professor Allen Thomson, M. D., F.R.S., who was supported on the platform by Dr. Taylor, Dr. Penny, Dr. Rainy, Professor Wallace, Professor Blackburn, Jabez Hughes, Esq. (of London), E. Brace, Esq., A. Mactear,Esq., J. Stuart, Esq., A. Macnab, Esq., J. Jex Long, Esq., J. Spencer, Esq., and other gentlemen. The proceedings of the evening commenced with a bountiful service of tea and coffee, an efficient band of music meanwhile enlivening the company with popular quadrilles, and operatic selections. Tea concluded, The Chairman, Dr. Allen Thomson, apologized for the un avoidable absence of the President, and congratulated the association on their excellent attendance and splendid display, and trusted they would heartly enjoy themselves. He maintained that that association represented one of the “ Wonders of the Age ”—Photography. It was an art as remarkable for its rapid rise and progress as for the deep and subtle scientific principles on which it was based.’ It had arisen, not only in our own time, but almost under the eyes of the youngest amongst us. But a few years since, it was the latest marvel of science, and now it was practised everywhere. The early examples of the art were costly and imperfect, obtainable only by persons of means ; its progress, however, had been marked by a series of rapid strides, and each step of progress has not only improved, but cheapened it; so that now, in its highest degree of perfection, it was within the reach of all. Thus had this philosophical wonder become almost a daily necessity, and, ministering to our feelings and affections, it was equally appreciated and patron ized by the highest and the humblest in the land. He continued: There is a combination of science and art—of fine art and the highest taste—that secures approval for photography wherever it goes, and makes it one of the most delightful occupations that can be followed. I think it may be viewed in various aspects. I take first that which suggests itself the most readily to the mind and heart, its social aspect. Where is the house you enter now that you do not find portraits of beloved friends and valued scenes, remembrances of every description by the photographic art ? Who is there now who has not his large album of cartes de visite, or his small and cherished collection? A friend of mine gave me an illustration of this the other day. He met an old woman, and he asked her about her children. “Where,” said he, “is Maggie, where is Betty, and where is Tom, and so on?” Well, he got an account of them all. Tom was gone to Australia ; Maggie was married, and gone to Canada ; and Betty was gone to New Zealand. “ But,” said the old woman, “ here they are all in my pocket.” (Laughter.) “ I will show you their husbands, and Tom’s wife and bairns, and I have got pictures of the cottage which they have just built, and the place is beautiful.” This is a simple picture of what occurs in almost every family of the present day. I say it is a picture of the social aspect of this art of the most agreeable and delightful description. (Applause.) The Chairman then alluded to the general improvement in taste, and this he attributed to a considerable extent to the influence of photography. No doubt such great Exhibitions as those of 1851 and 1862 produced powerful influence, but to this art must the greater effect be due, and no more striking proof could be given than the almost entire suppression of miniature painting, and the commoner form of oil painted portraits. These were avowedly ill-drawn, even when well painted, and at best unsatisfactory representations, and he had no hesitation in say ing, that even an ordinary photograph of the present day, by virtue of its truthfulness and accuracy, stood higher as a work of art, and was of more real value to its possessor, than many of the costly and pretentious productions of days past. Some persons objected to photographic portraits because they did not make more pleasing likenesses ; this he thought was more often attributed to the sitters themselves than photography, for it must be remembered that it was the person himself who pro ¬ duced the expression that was copied on the plate. He thought this subject was likely to engage the attention of the public more than it had done, as he found many persons who really did study the pose and expression, with the view to aid the artist and secure a better photograph. Still, for his part, he was a great advocate for truth, and if the frown was habitual on the brow, he did not see why it should not be on the photograph too. (Cheers.) It was to be regretted that doubts still existed as to the ultimate permanency of the prints. Yet as so much advance had been made, he doubted not that science would speedily solve this problem, and that the certain stability of the prints would be one of the earliest improvements recorded. Allusion was then made to the usefulness of photography in fostering and diffusing a taste for the fine arts by reproducing, for compara tively trifling sums, copies of the celebrated statues of antiquity, of the pictures of the best masters, of the choicest examples of the architecture of all lands, as well as some of the most beauti ful and interesting scenes in Nature. After alluding to the utility of photography in copying objects in natural history, historical monuments, rare manuscripts, &c., he enjoined the company not to neglect the opportunity of a close inspection of the exquisite works before them, as it might be long before they again had so favourable an occasion. The band now performed a variety of popular airs and a choral party sang quartettes. Mr. E. Brace (Hon. Secretary to the association) delivered a very interesting address, in which, after alluding to the rise and progress of the art, he contrasted it twenty years ago, when practised only by Claudet and Beard, to its present diffusion, where almost every village has its professional artist. He had been at some pains to collect a few statistics on the subject. He found by consulting the Directories, that in London there were 194 professional photographers; in Liverpool 51, Manchester 49, Glasgow 38, Edinburgh 33, and Aberdeen 15. He was aware that these figures very much understated the real numbers, as there were many photographers whose names were not in the Directory, yet even these showed that there were nearly 400 photographers in the three principal cities of England and Scotland. But this did not represent in any degree the number of persons employed ; as, in every establish ment there are several assistants. In one establishment in London, there were last season nearly 100 hands engaged, and in many the number were over 50. He proposed to assume on an average, that there were ten assistants, this would show 4,000 persons employed. The wages earned varied considerably, according to skill and ability, but if each were paid £1 per week, this estimate would show that nearly a quarter of a million sterling was paid per annum as wages for photographic assistants. These figures, however, let it be understood, bear reference, not to the United Kingdom, but only to the three principal cities of England and Scotland, and therefore gave but a very imperfect sketch of the real number of persons employed in photography, or of its value as an industrial art. As an enormous quantity of gold and silver was consumed in the production of photographs, he had en deavoured to get an approximate idea of the amount. He had put himself into communication with two of the largest houses in the trade, and from the data supplied, he found that during 1862, there were 152,216 ounces of metallic silver consumed, nearly 4 J tons of the precious metal. So largo an amount might be supposed to influence the currency, fortunately, as yet, it had not done so. This silver was converted into upwards of 240,000 ounces of nitrate.® Ho had endeavoured to form some idea of how many pictures could be produced by this amount of nitrate of silver. Here he entered .more into the region of sur mise, but he took it for granted, that, though a good deal of this nitrate of silver was consumed in the production of negatives, yet that the great proportion was employed in sensitizing the paper. He thought ho was also justified in assuming, that during the past season the bulk of this nitrate was used in the production of cartes de visite. By a comparison of notes with an eminent photographic friend, based on the number of grains of nitrate of silver required to sensitize a whole sheet of paper, and the number of cartes de visite that could be produced by this whole sheet, ho had come to the conclusion, making * As Mr. Brace derived his data from two wholesale houses only, and ns one of these is not by any means the largest manufacturer, it is probable that the amount is much understated. Perhaps 500,000 ounces of nitrate of silver would be a more accurate estimate, but allowance must be made for a con siderable quantity of the precious metal that is recovered from cuttings and waste solutions.—Ed, P.N.