{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1427788"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1427788/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024PA3925/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024PA3925/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024PA3925","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3924","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3923","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3922","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024PA3942","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1427788","accessionNumber":"RPS.3050-2017","objectType":"Camera lucida","titles":[{"title":"Camera lucida","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Talbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making.\r\n\r\nTalbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography.","physicalDescription":"A 135° glass prism set in brass with movable lens, mask and neutral density filter.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"optical glass","id":"AAT10877"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"A neutral density filter is used to restrict the amount of light entering through it without changing hue or colour renditions.","categories":[{"text":"Cameras","id":"THES280056"},{"text":"The Royal Photographic Society","id":"THES281081"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DOP","id":"THES291628"},"images":["2024PA3925","2024PA3924","2024PA3923","2024PA3922","2024PA3942"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"UpObjectStore","id":"THES393033"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"camera lucida","id":"AAT22486"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1820s","earliest":"1815-01-01","latest":"1833-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole object unfolded","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"47","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"29","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"whole object folded","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'4148'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Sticker on brass body of object"},{"content":"'1929-429'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"In white pen on main body of object."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Camera lucida belonging to William Henry Fox Talbot. A 135° glass prism set in brass with a lens, mask and neutral density filter. Would have originally been used with a stand but this is missing.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Talbot, William Henry Fox","id":"A15794"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Photography Centre 2018-20:</b>\n\nWilliam Henry Fox Talbot (1800–77) \r\n\r\nTalbot was the British inventor of photography. In 1834 he discovered how to make and fix images through the action of light and chemistry on paper. These ‘negatives’ could be used to make multiple prints. This revolutionised image making.\r\n\r\nTalbot excelled in many fields, including mathematics, optics, botany and chemistry. However, it was his inability to master drawing outdoors that prompted him to experiment with capturing images inside a camera. He published his photographic discoveries and ideas, illustrated with original photographs, in his book The Pencil of Nature. Talbot patented his negative photographic process, which he called the ‘calotype’, in 1841. Later, he pioneered photographic engraving – printing photographs in ink. His processes became the basis of virtually all subsequent photography.\r\n\r\nYou can see how calotypes are made in the ‘Dark Tent’ film room in Room 99.\r\n\r\nThe Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund\r\n","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["RPS.3050-2017"],"accessionNumberNum":"3050","accessionNumberPrefix":"RPS","accessionYear":2017,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Royal Photographic Society number","id":"THES275233"},"number":"4148P"},{"type":{"text":"Science Museum Group accession number","id":"THES275235"},"number":"1929-429"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-27","recordCreationDate":"2018-01-09","availableToBook":false}}