{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1364113"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1364113/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JR2089/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JR2089/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JR2089","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1364113/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1364113","accessionNumber":"52958","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Bridge of Shops, Srinuggur","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"In 1863 Samuel Bourne (1834-1912) arrived in India. He had left his job as a Nottingham bank clerk in order to develop his new career as a photographer. Bourne undertook three treks to Kashmir and the western Himalayas in 1863, 1864 and 1866, during which he photographed his surroundings extensively.\n\r\nHe began his second trip to India, during which this photograph was taken, in March 1864. It was to be a nine-month expedition through the Kashmir region. Throughout his travels he wrote about his first impressions of the places he visited and these writings were published in the British Journal of Photography. Of his first impressions of Srinagar he noted: \"The first three days after my arrival at Srinugger were spent in “wanderings in search of the picturesque;” and, if my readers will accompany me in these peregrinations, they  will see most of the beauties of this “terrestrial paradise.” Finding the visitors’ “bungalows” all full I pitched my tent on the left hand of the river under the shade of some mulberry  trees. It was the 3rd of July and as fine a morning as ever dawned on earth, when I awoke after a sound night’s sleep, in the highest possible spirits to set forth on my mission of  pleasure.\" Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4 \n\nHe goes on to compare the Bridge of Shops near Srinagar to prints that he had seen of Old London Bridge: \"I stepped into my boat and gave orders to be rowed to the “dhul” or lake, distant about three miles. Passing down the river in the cool shade of the lofty poplars, we soon come  to the first of the seven bridges of Srinugger. These bridges are very curios in construction and picturesque in appearance. They are built on large wooden piles of deodar logs  crossed and pinned together, and, though looking anything but substantial, seem to have stood for many generations. Some of them have a row of shops flanking the roadway  on each side, resembling Old London Bridge, if we may believe the prints we have seen of it.” Bourne, S, Narrative of a Photographic Trip to Kashmir (Cashmere) and the  Adjacent Districts, The British Journal of Photography, 4 January 1867, p.4\n\r\nTowards the end of the 1860s, Bourne established a partnership with fellow photographer and Englishman Charles Shepherd (fl.1858-1878) and in the space of a few years Bourne & Shepherd became the pre-eminent photographic firm in India. By the end of 1870 they had three branches, in Simla, Calcutta and Bombay.\r\n\nSamuel Bourne’s ability to combine technical skill and artistic vision has led to him being recognised today as one of the most outstanding photographers working in India in the nineteenth century.\r\n","physicalDescription":"The photograph shows a view of the 'Bridge of Shops' in Srinagar, India. The riverbank on the left hand side extends into the foreground of the picture.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bourne, Samuel","id":"A8171"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"wet collodion process","id":"AAT133299"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Albumen print from wet collodion negative","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2016JR2089"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES403840"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1864","earliest":"1864-01-01","latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"photograph","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"photograph","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signature and negative number in bottom left hand corner","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This photograph was initially part of the photographic collection held in the National Art Library. The markings on the mount are an indication of the history of the object, its movement through the museum and the way it is categorised. The mount is white. Bottom Left: Label from Bourne catalogue with some handwritten text.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph, 'Bridge of Shops, Srinuggur', albumen print, Samuel Bourne, India, 1860s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"The negative was made in 1864. This print was made before March 1867.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"India","id":"x29790"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["52958"],"accessionNumberNum":"52958","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Negative number","id":"THES50273"},"number":"788"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2016-08-18","availableToBook":true}}