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.

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Glass plate negatives

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

      ATTRIBUTED TO WILSON & HAY (ACTIVE 1853-55)

      Scottish landscape near Balmoral Castle

      c. Sep 1854

      RCIN 2083979

      Glass plate negative of a winding river, possibly Dee, running through a landscape. A suspension bridge is visible on the far right. 

      The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative do not seem to exist in the Collection.

      • Creator(s)

        Attributed to Wilson & Hay (active 1853-55) (photographer)

      • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

      • Subject(s)
        • Places
          • Europe
            • Great Britain
              • Scotland
                • Aberdeenshire [Scotland]
                  • Balmoral Castle [Aberdeenshire]
            • Rivers of northern Europe
              • Rivers of Scotland
                • River Dee [Aberdeen]
        • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
          • Architecture
            • Secular architecture
              • Bridges
        • Geography
          • Physiography
            • Rivers
        Object type(s)
          • visual works
            • photographs
              • negatives
                • glass plate negatives
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