This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Visit the Royal Collection

Glass plate negatives

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

LEONIDA CALDESI (1823-91)

Queen Victoria (1819-1901)

1857

Wet collodion negative | 45.5 x 38.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2079258

Glass plate negative of a full length photographic portrait of Queen Victoria, facing one quarter to the left with her head facing one quarter to the right. It was formerly attributed to J. Mayall.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. A print from this negative exists in the Collection, RCIN 2931295.

  • Creator(s)

    Leonida Caldesi (1823-91) (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)

  • 45.5 x 38.0 cm (whole object)

  • Comissioned by Queen Victoria

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
          • negatives
            • glass plate negatives
PreviousNext
PreviousNext