Accession Number1989/1.57
TitleThomas Leverton Donaldson
Artist(s)David Octavius Hill;
Robert AdamsonObject Creation Date1843-1847Medium & Supportsalted paper printDimensions 8 in x 6 in (20.4 cm x 15.2 cm);14 5/16 in x 19 5/16 in (36.35 cm x 49.05 cm);14 13/16 in x 10 11/16 in (37.6 cm x 27.2 cm);8 in x 6 in (20.4 cm x 15.2 cm)
Credit LineMuseum PurchaseSubject matterPrinted in rich brown tones, this photograph is a portrait of an older, seated man in a three piece suit. The man reclines on the armrest of his chair, his head turned to the side, eyes downcast and appearing to smile. His right hand idly holds an eye-glass. Behind him is evidence of an interior setting, however the photograph’s legibility beyond the sitter degrades considerably. The man is the Scottish architect, Thomas Leverton Donaldson. The photographers who created this image, David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, received instruction from William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of the calotype. Hill and Adamson enjoyed a deeply prolific collaboration together, which was tragically cut short by Hill’s premature death. In the five years they worked together, they produced a remarkable body of work that served to elevate perception of the newly invented process into an artistic medium.
Physical DescriptionThis photograph is a portrait of a seated man in a three piece suit. He holds an eye-glass in his right hand.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
architects
calotypes (negatives)
males
men (male humans)
monocles
portraits
salted paper prints
salted paper processes