{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1092665"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1092665/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CJ0539/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CJ0539/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CJ0539","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1092665/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1092665","accessionNumber":"67058","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"South Kensington Museum, Educational Collection(?), showing School Furniture and Apparatus","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Photographs and photographers were present from the very beginning of the V&A's history and the Museum has an extensive collection of images from the 1850s through to the present which documents the construction and development of the V&A and the South Kensington site.  \r\n\r\nOriginally collected by the National Art Library as part of a programme to record works of art, architecture and design in the interest of public education, these topographic and architectural views were valued as records and as source material for students of architecture and design.  As well as being crucial records of the history of the V&A, and an important element within the National Art Library's visual encyclopaedia, these photographs are also significant artefacts in the history of the art of photography.\n\nIsabel Cowper was the sister of the South Kensington Museum's first official photographer, Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-1868) and of the  Superintendent of the Museum, Richard A. Thompson.  Little is known about Cowper, but in her letter of resignation in 1891, she refers to herself as the Museum's 'Official Photographer', having taken up the position after the death of her brother.  As such, she is an important part of the early history of V&A and a seminal figure  behind the Museum’s early uptake of photography to document the arts.","physicalDescription":"A photograph of a long narrow gallery with skylights running the length of the ceiling.  In the far distance is a sign:  'Educational Collection'.  On display are school desks and chairs, framed prints, plaster casts.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cowper, Isabel Agnes","id":"A11378"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Department of Science and Art of the Committee of Council on Education","id":"AUTH320544"},"association":{"text":"commissioned by","id":"x28662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"albumen process","id":"AAT133274"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Albumen print","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"History of the V&A","id":"THES252692"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Plaster Cast","id":"THES270451"}],"styles":[{"text":"documentary","id":"x37881"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2009CJ0539"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"DR","shelf":"71","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"South Kensington Museum","id":"x32782"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1868","earliest":"1863-01-01","latest":"1872-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph by Isabel Agnes Cowper, South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers'), Educational Collection(?), showing School Furniture and Apparatus, albumen print, ca. 1868","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"museums","id":"AAT5768"},{"text":"galleries (display spaces)","id":"AAT240057"},{"text":"desks","id":"AAT39338"},{"text":"desk chairs","id":"AAT38165"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["67058"],"accessionNumberNum":"67058","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Negative number (V&A Archive Guard Book reference)","id":"THES251758"},"number":"9062"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-14","recordCreationDate":"2009-07-01","availableToBook":false}}