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| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
| Quiz # 156 Results |
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| Answer: It was believed to be a photogenic drawing produced by W H F Talbot in 1839 or later. An expert has recently announced that it could be a much older photogenic drawing, possibly from as early as 1790, possibly taken by Thomas Wedgewood, Humphrey Davies, or James Watt. If true, it predates the (until now) earliest known photograph produced by Niecpce in 1826 by 36 years. |
| Click here to see our reader's choice for Best Picture and the results of Survey #3, December 22, 2006. |
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| See results of Survey #2 May 12-19, 2006 Click here. |
| See results of Survey #1 December 9-16, 2005 Click here. |
| Dead Horse Update Click HERE to read our analysis of the Dead Horse Picture from the Sheboygan Press. |
| Answer to Quiz #156 - April 27, 2008 |
| Click here to see our reader's choice for Best Picture and the results of Survey #4, August 12, 2007. |
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| An Image Is a Mystery for Photo Detectives By Randy Kennedy Published: April 17, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/arts/design/17phot.html |
The phone call was routine, the kind often made before big
auctions. Sotheby’s was preparing to sell a striking rust-
brown image of a leaf on paper, long thought to have been
made by William Henry Fox Talbot, one of the inventors of
photography. So the auction house contacted a Baltimore
historian considered to be the world’s leading Talbot expert
and asked if he could grace the sale’s catalog with any
interesting scholarly details about the print — known as a
photogenic drawing, a crude precursor to the photograph.
“I got back to them and said, ‘Well, the first thing I would
say is that this was not made by Talbot,’ ” the historian,
Larry J. Schaaf, recalled in a recent interview.
“That was not what they were expecting to hear, to say the
least.”
In the weeks since Dr. Schaaf’s surprising pronouncement
was made public, “The Leaf,” originally thought to have
been made around 1839 or later, has become the talk of the
photo-historical world. The speculation about its origins
became so intense that Sotheby’s and the print’s owners
decided earlier this month to postpone its auction, so that
researchers could begin delving into whether the image
may be, in fact, one of the oldest photographic images in
existence, dating to the 1790s. Read more....
auctions. Sotheby’s was preparing to sell a striking rust-
brown image of a leaf on paper, long thought to have been
made by William Henry Fox Talbot, one of the inventors of
photography. So the auction house contacted a Baltimore
historian considered to be the world’s leading Talbot expert
and asked if he could grace the sale’s catalog with any
interesting scholarly details about the print — known as a
photogenic drawing, a crude precursor to the photograph.
“I got back to them and said, ‘Well, the first thing I would
say is that this was not made by Talbot,’ ” the historian,
Larry J. Schaaf, recalled in a recent interview.
“That was not what they were expecting to hear, to say the
least.”
In the weeks since Dr. Schaaf’s surprising pronouncement
was made public, “The Leaf,” originally thought to have
been made around 1839 or later, has become the talk of the
photo-historical world. The speculation about its origins
became so intense that Sotheby’s and the print’s owners
decided earlier this month to postpone its auction, so that
researchers could begin delving into whether the image
may be, in fact, one of the oldest photographic images in
existence, dating to the 1790s. Read more....
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| Photogenic Drawings |
| Contact image of heather, Erica mutabilis, made on stiff paper by W. H. Fox Talbot (1800-1877), dated March 1839 http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/features/ephotos/ephoto1.ht m#photo |
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| The first known photograph made with a camera. Henry Fox Talbot The Oriel Window, Lacock Abbey, seen from the inside c. Summer 1835. http://thispublicaddress.com..... |
| (Top) Negative and (Bottom) computer-generated positive view of the telescope at Slough, by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871), 1839 http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk... |
| Study of an oak leaf by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871), 26th February, 1839 http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/features/ ephotos/ephoto21.htm#photo |
| Early "Leaf" Photo Could Fetch Fortune Sotheby's To Auction Historic Photograph; Believed To Date Back As Far As 1790 CBS News, March 28, 2008 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/28/tech/main3977071.shtml |
- Soak writing paper in a weak solution of
sodium chloride (common salt).
- When dry, sensitise the paper by brushing one
side with a strong silver nitrate solution. This
causes silver chloride to be formed on the
surface of the paper.
- Take the photo while the paper is still wet. An
exposure of at least an hour may be needed.
This will imprint an image on the paper.
- Remove the paper from the camera and wash
it.
- stabilise (or 'fix') the image on the paper by
soaking the paper in a strong solution of sodium
chloride.
- This produces a negative image on paper.
sodium chloride (common salt).
- When dry, sensitise the paper by brushing one
side with a strong silver nitrate solution. This
causes silver chloride to be formed on the
surface of the paper.
- Take the photo while the paper is still wet. An
exposure of at least an hour may be needed.
This will imprint an image on the paper.
- Remove the paper from the camera and wash
it.
- stabilise (or 'fix') the image on the paper by
soaking the paper in a strong solution of sodium
chloride.
- This produces a negative image on paper.
(AP) A New York auction house is selling a
primitive photograph that could be a much
earlier work than originally believed. If so, it
says, it would be one of the most important
discoveries in the history of photography.
The work, "Leaf," to be sold at Sotheby's on
April 7, is a photogenic drawing — a
cameraless process in which an object is
placed on silver nitrate-coated paper or leather
to form a negative image.
It had previously been attributed to William
Henry Fox Talbot, considered the father of
photography along with Louis-Jacques-Mande
Daguerre. It was thought to have been made
primitive photograph that could be a much
earlier work than originally believed. If so, it
says, it would be one of the most important
discoveries in the history of photography.
The work, "Leaf," to be sold at Sotheby's on
April 7, is a photogenic drawing — a
cameraless process in which an object is
placed on silver nitrate-coated paper or leather
to form a negative image.
It had previously been attributed to William
Henry Fox Talbot, considered the father of
photography along with Louis-Jacques-Mande
Daguerre. It was thought to have been made
| This picture of a leaf was in the news recently. Why? |
| Study of lace, by Sir John Herschel (1791-1871), 1839 http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/features/ephotos/epho to2.htm#photo |
| Thanks to Kate Johnson for suggesting this quiz. |
| Negative image of an engraving of a lady by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871), 5th August, 1839 http://www.mhs.ox.... |
| Computer generated positive image http://www.mhs.ox... |
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| The Recipe for Making Photogenic Drawings http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_early/1_early_photography_-_processes_-_photogenic_drawing.htm |
Possibly one of the earliest leaf photos made from exposing the object on the photo
sensitive paper. It may have been done by Bright (was he a bright person?).
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/arts/design/17phot.html. The exciting thing for
me is that I got it on my first Google try. Am I getting brighter? Judy Pfaff
***********
I went off on a tanget trying to find out what kind of leaf it was. No idea of the size of
the thing, but it is the same shape as a betel leaf. Having learned more than I ever
wanted to know about the merits of betel leaves from a Sri Lanka newspaper, I await
your definitive answer. Maureen O'Connor
**********
Wonderful... and thanks for this one. Sir Humphry Davy is one of my favorites, and the
Wedgewood family is awesome by any measure. Rex Cornelius
**********
I will be interested to see how much it brings at auction. Beth Long
N.B.: So will Sotherby's!
**********
WOW!!!!!! That is amazing! If only that leaf could talk now!!!!!!!!! Grace Hertz
**********
In this case, it is suspicious that an unfixed silver nitrate still shows an image. Is it
magic? The chemical analysis might tell something. John Chulick
**********
What a facinating story. I thought it could have been a picture of a fossil leaf that DNA
has been collected from, but instead it could be the oldest "photograph," really a
photogram. I'm looking forward to learning about the rest of the story.
Sandy Thompson
**********
sensitive paper. It may have been done by Bright (was he a bright person?).
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/arts/design/17phot.html. The exciting thing for
me is that I got it on my first Google try. Am I getting brighter? Judy Pfaff
***********
I went off on a tanget trying to find out what kind of leaf it was. No idea of the size of
the thing, but it is the same shape as a betel leaf. Having learned more than I ever
wanted to know about the merits of betel leaves from a Sri Lanka newspaper, I await
your definitive answer. Maureen O'Connor
**********
Wonderful... and thanks for this one. Sir Humphry Davy is one of my favorites, and the
Wedgewood family is awesome by any measure. Rex Cornelius
**********
I will be interested to see how much it brings at auction. Beth Long
N.B.: So will Sotherby's!
**********
WOW!!!!!! That is amazing! If only that leaf could talk now!!!!!!!!! Grace Hertz
**********
In this case, it is suspicious that an unfixed silver nitrate still shows an image. Is it
magic? The chemical analysis might tell something. John Chulick
**********
What a facinating story. I thought it could have been a picture of a fossil leaf that DNA
has been collected from, but instead it could be the oldest "photograph," really a
photogram. I'm looking forward to learning about the rest of the story.
Sandy Thompson
**********
| Comments from Our Readers |
| On Second Thought, Maybe There's a Tie |
Oh you are going laugh at this. I always think out of the box. This looks like an
'elephant ear' leaf which is also the name of several GOP organizations in use during
this primary season.I realize this is probably not what you intended but thought you
would get a kick out of my connection. Sherry Marshall
***********
Hi Sherry,
You are right. I did laugh at it, and you were thinking out of the box....waaaaaayyyyyy
out of the box.
Colleen
'elephant ear' leaf which is also the name of several GOP organizations in use during
this primary season.I realize this is probably not what you intended but thought you
would get a kick out of my connection. Sherry Marshall
***********
Hi Sherry,
You are right. I did laugh at it, and you were thinking out of the box....waaaaaayyyyyy
out of the box.
Colleen
The leaf featured in this week's photo quiz came from an extinct species of tree called
Glossopteris. The tree was part of a forest which was at one time in Antarctica. Still
seen are the petrified stumps from these trees, and the fossilized remains of these
leaves. The fossils are approximately 260 million years old. It is believed that the
forest existed during the Permian Period on Mount Achernar, which is about 400 miles
from the South Pole. The discovery of the stumps, along with the fossil leaves has
called into question what we know about Antarctica.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20041101/leaves_zoom0.html
http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu/news/features/miller/dispatches/decLate.htm
Kelly Fetherlin
***********
Hi Kelly,
On second thought, do these leaves occur anywhere outside of Antarctica? If not, you
have proven the photo is a fake. No one had been to Antactica at the time this photo
was supposedly produced, whether in 1839 or 1790. Much less having a leaf from a
tree that existed in Antarctica millenia ago....Hmmmm. I'd get on the phone with
Sotherby's if I were you.
Any chance you could be wrong in your identification?
Colleen
Glossopteris. The tree was part of a forest which was at one time in Antarctica. Still
seen are the petrified stumps from these trees, and the fossilized remains of these
leaves. The fossils are approximately 260 million years old. It is believed that the
forest existed during the Permian Period on Mount Achernar, which is about 400 miles
from the South Pole. The discovery of the stumps, along with the fossil leaves has
called into question what we know about Antarctica.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20041101/leaves_zoom0.html
http://exploration.vanderbilt.edu/news/features/miller/dispatches/decLate.htm
Kelly Fetherlin
***********
Hi Kelly,
On second thought, do these leaves occur anywhere outside of Antarctica? If not, you
have proven the photo is a fake. No one had been to Antactica at the time this photo
was supposedly produced, whether in 1839 or 1790. Much less having a leaf from a
tree that existed in Antarctica millenia ago....Hmmmm. I'd get on the phone with
Sotherby's if I were you.
Any chance you could be wrong in your identification?
Colleen
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| ********** |
| ********** |
| Table Set for Tea From the "Bertoloni Album," 1839 William Henry Fox Talbot (British, 1800–1877) Photogenic drawing from a paper negative Image: 5 1/4 x 8 in. (13.4 x 20.2 cm) sheet: 6 3/4 x 8 5/8 (17 x 21.8 cm) Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1936 |
| This Week's Prize for Creative Writing Goes to Kelly Fetherlin |
| ********** |
in 1839 at what is widely accepted as the dawn of photography.
But Sotheby's says research by a leading photo expert suggests otherwise — that
several early photo experimenters could be the authors, including Thomas Wedgwood,
James Watt and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades earlier. If that
theory is true, it means the photo could have been made as early as 1790.
What it will fetch at auction is anyone's guess, said Denise Bethel, Sotheby's director of
photography. Read more...
But Sotheby's says research by a leading photo expert suggests otherwise — that
several early photo experimenters could be the authors, including Thomas Wedgwood,
James Watt and Humphry Davy, who worked in the medium decades earlier. If that
theory is true, it means the photo could have been made as early as 1790.
What it will fetch at auction is anyone's guess, said Denise Bethel, Sotheby's director of
photography. Read more...
| Metropolitan Museum of Art Timeline of Art History http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tlbt/ho_36.37.36.htm# |
copy of his treatise Some Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing, or the Process
by which Natural Objects May Be Made to Delineate Themselves without the Aid of the
Artist's Pencil soon after its publication in early 1839.
One of the most treasured objects in the Department of Photographs, Album di Disegni
Fotogenici is among the rarest of photographic incunabula, containing the first
photographic images seen in Italy, a trove of early pictures sent by Talbot to a fellow
botanist, Antonio Bertoloni. A serious and enthusiastic amateur botanist in England,
Talbot had corresponded with and sent botanical specimens to Bertoloni beginning in
1826. It was natural, then, that Talbot sent his colleague in Bologna a copy of his
treatise Some Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing, or the Process by which
Natural Objects May Be Made to Delineate Themselves without the Aid of the Artist's
Pencil soon after its publication in early 1839.
More startling than Talbot's written account were the contents of five small packets he
sent to Bertoloni between June 1839 and June 1840. In each, Talbot enclosed examples
of his new art: first, photogenic drawings made by placing objects on top of
by which Natural Objects May Be Made to Delineate Themselves without the Aid of the
Artist's Pencil soon after its publication in early 1839.
One of the most treasured objects in the Department of Photographs, Album di Disegni
Fotogenici is among the rarest of photographic incunabula, containing the first
photographic images seen in Italy, a trove of early pictures sent by Talbot to a fellow
botanist, Antonio Bertoloni. A serious and enthusiastic amateur botanist in England,
Talbot had corresponded with and sent botanical specimens to Bertoloni beginning in
1826. It was natural, then, that Talbot sent his colleague in Bologna a copy of his
treatise Some Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing, or the Process by which
Natural Objects May Be Made to Delineate Themselves without the Aid of the Artist's
Pencil soon after its publication in early 1839.
More startling than Talbot's written account were the contents of five small packets he
sent to Bertoloni between June 1839 and June 1840. In each, Talbot enclosed examples
of his new art: first, photogenic drawings made by placing objects on top of
| Album di Disegni Fotogenici: The "Bertoloni Album" William Henry Fox Talbot (British, 1800–1877) Album of 36 photogenic drawings |
| Congratulations to Our Winners Bob Wilson Corey Condit Judy Pfaff Maureen O'Connor Carl Blessing Gaycha Mayhew Mark Browning Gary Sterne Marjorie Wilser Rex Cornelius Sherry Marshall Milene Rawlinson Rhonda Hensley John Chulick Cheri Black Karen Kay Bunting Beth Long Grace Hertz Anna Farris Dave Doucette Diane Burkett Dan Schlesinger Stan Read Lori Semashko Anna Farris Erica Augustine Mary South Carolyn Cornelius Carolyn Cornelius Don Schulteis Karen Petrus Brian Kemp Joe Ruffner Fred Stuart Betty Chambers Dennis Brann Phyllis Barrattia Tom Tollefsen Sandy Thompson Betty Chambers Wayne Douglas Cris Julian Tom Tollefsen Debbie Sterbinsky Marilyn Hamill |
One of the most treasured objects in the
Department of Photographs, Album di
Disegni Fotogenici is among the rarest of
photographic incunabula, containing the
first photographic images seen in Italy, a
trove of early pictures sent by Talbot to a
fellow botanist, Antonio Bertoloni. A
serious and enthusiastic amateur botanist
in England, Talbot had corresponded with
and sent botanical specimens to Bertoloni
beginning in 1826. It was natural, then,
that Talbot sent his colleague in Bologna a
Department of Photographs, Album di
Disegni Fotogenici is among the rarest of
photographic incunabula, containing the
first photographic images seen in Italy, a
trove of early pictures sent by Talbot to a
fellow botanist, Antonio Bertoloni. A
serious and enthusiastic amateur botanist
in England, Talbot had corresponded with
and sent botanical specimens to Bertoloni
beginning in 1826. It was natural, then,
that Talbot sent his colleague in Bologna a
| Of COURSE MR. RICK'S QUIZ ANGELS ACE ANOTHER ONE! |
- Treat a second sheet of paper with
salt + silver nitrate, as above.
- Lay the negative created above on
top of the newly-coated sheet of
paper + expose to light.
- Wait for a positive image to emerge
then fix as above.
| Henry Fox Talbot 1800-1870 http://ppprs1.phy.tu-dresden.de/..... |
| A Talbot "Mousetrap" Camera, 1834 |
| "The Footman", the earliest photograph of a human figure on paper by William Henry Fox Talbot, 1840. http://www.answers.com/topic/... |
photosensitized paper and exposing them
to sunlight (what we would today call
photograms), and later, photogenic
drawings printed from negatives made in
a camera obscura (what we have come
to call photographs). Bertoloni carefully
preserved these first products of the new
medium and assembled them, along with
related written material, in the album now
at the Metropolitan. Album di Disegni
Fotogenici contains thirty-six photogenic
drawings by Talbot, twenty made from
direct contact with objects, fifteen made
from camera negatives, and one made
with a solar microscope; three letters
from Talbot and one from his uncle,
William Fox-Strangways; three printed
to sunlight (what we would today call
photograms), and later, photogenic
drawings printed from negatives made in
a camera obscura (what we have come
to call photographs). Bertoloni carefully
preserved these first products of the new
medium and assembled them, along with
related written material, in the album now
at the Metropolitan. Album di Disegni
Fotogenici contains thirty-six photogenic
drawings by Talbot, twenty made from
direct contact with objects, fifteen made
from camera negatives, and one made
with a solar microscope; three letters
from Talbot and one from his uncle,
William Fox-Strangways; three printed
notices; and three photogenic drawings-first to be made in Italy—by the Italian chemist
Tassinari.
In the Bertoloni Album, the photogenic drawings printed from camera negatives depict
Talbot's home and gardens at the thirteenth-century Lacock Abbey, as well as plaster
casts, lithographs, and the nearby estate, Bowood. Several photographs in the album
transcend their documentary and demonstrative function by virtue of their extraordinary
beauty and sense of intimacy. In these Talbot shared with Bertoloni details of his life: a
circular table set for tea, an arrangement of garden implements, and a view of the
grounds of Lacock Abbey, inscribed by Talbot in Italian on the verso, "Mio Giardino."
Tassinari.
In the Bertoloni Album, the photogenic drawings printed from camera negatives depict
Talbot's home and gardens at the thirteenth-century Lacock Abbey, as well as plaster
casts, lithographs, and the nearby estate, Bowood. Several photographs in the album
transcend their documentary and demonstrative function by virtue of their extraordinary
beauty and sense of intimacy. In these Talbot shared with Bertoloni details of his life: a
circular table set for tea, an arrangement of garden implements, and a view of the
grounds of Lacock Abbey, inscribed by Talbot in Italian on the verso, "Mio Giardino."
| ********** |
| Nature Exposed: Photography as Eyewitness in Victorian Science http://search.barnesand noble.com... |
| The Sunlight Print Kit Materials, Techniques, and Projects for Homemade Photography http://www.chroniclebook s.com/... |
