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Glass plate negatives

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

      THOMAS RICHARD WILLIAMS (1825-71)

      Gunner Samuel Smith and Bombardier William Hewlett of the Royal Marine Artillery 

      Jun 1855Jun 1856

      Wet collodion negative | 16.1 x 12.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2082966

      6.5" x 4 ¾" glass plate negative showing Gunner Samuel Smith and Bombardier William Hewlett of the Royal Marine Artillery. Smith is sitting on a pile of cannonballs with Hewlett standing beside him. Both are wearing military uniform and the Crimean medal.

      These soldiers were awarded the Crimean Medal by Queen Victoria on 18th May 1855 and were later photographed by T R Williams in Portsmouth.

      The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative exist in the Collection (e.g. RCIN 2500152).

      • Creator(s)

        Thomas Richard Williams (1825-71) (photographer)

        Subject(s)

        William Hewlett, Bomadier (fl.1855)
        Samuel Smith (fl.1855)
        Army-GB-Artillery-Royal Marine Artillery

      • 16.1 x 12.0 cm (whole object)

      • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

      • Subject(s)
        • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
          • Plastic arts
            • Numismatics
              • Medals
                • Campaign medals
                  • Crimea Medal (1854-56)
        • Science, Medicine and Technology
          • Industries, Crafts and Trades
            • Clothing
              • Costume
                • Uniforms
                  • Military uniforms
          • Engineering & Technology
            • Military engineering
              • Arms (weapons)
                • Ammunition
                  • Cannon-balls
        • Social sciences
          • Military affairs
            • Wars, Campaigns & Battles
              • Wars
                • Wars of the nineteenth century
                  • Crimean War (1853-1856)
        • Places
          • Europe
            • Great Britain
              • England
                • Hampshire [England]
                  • Portsmouth [Hampshire]
                    • Portsmouth Dockyards [Portsmouth]
        Object type(s)
          • visual works
            • photographs
              • negatives
                • glass plate negatives
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