Mrs. Murray
David Octavius Hill
British, 1802–1870
Robert Adamson
British, 1821–1848
1847
A salted-paper photograph of a woman seen from behind, in which the maker aims to capture a quiet, intimate presence and the soft, painterly tones possible in early photographic printing.
You’re struck by the warm sepia wash and velvety shadows—the turned head and billowing skirt occupy the frame like a private moment rendered in delicate gradations of light.
Created in 1847 by David Octavius Hill, this print shows how early photographers borrowed compositional strategies from painting to demonstrate photography’s expressive potential and help establish it as an artistic medium.
Medium
Salted paper print
Dimensions
7 7/8 × 5 13/16" (20 × 14.7 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Bequest of Paul F. Walter
Accession
964.2018
Palette
Exhibitions
