John Herschel Anna Atkins William Henry Fox Talbot · Anna Atkins - Born in Tunbridge, Kent in 1799...
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Information Sheet: Nature Printing Cyanotype process - Developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871) - English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer, who also did valuable botanical work. Herschel also coined the term ‘photography’ in 1839. - Used by Anna Atkins in 1843 to illustrate her book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions – the first book ever illustrated using photographic images. - Cyanotypes were made by coating paper in light-sensitive chemicals (ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide), initially (and long into the 20 th century) to produce low-cost copies of drawings and diagrams (blueprints). Anna Atkins - Born in Tunbridge, Kent in 1799 and “received an unusually scientific education for a woman of her time” due to the influence of her father, John George Children, a chemist, mineralogist and zoologist. - Had a strong interest in botany, collecting many samples and being admitted to the London Botanical Society in 1839. - Developed an interest in photography partly influenced by her friendship with photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), who developed his ‘photogenic drawing’ technique partly due to his frustration at his inability to paint scenes as his sisters did. John Herschel Anna Atkins William Henry Fox Talbot
Transcript of John Herschel Anna Atkins William Henry Fox Talbot · Anna Atkins - Born in Tunbridge, Kent in 1799...
Information Sheet: Nature Printing
Cyanotype process
- Developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871) - English polymath, mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor, and experimental photographer, who also did valuable botanical work. Herschel also coined the term ‘photography’ in 1839.
- Used by Anna Atkins in 1843 to illustrate her book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions – the first book ever illustrated using photographic images.
- Cyanotypes were made by coating paper in light-sensitive chemicals (ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide), initially (and long into the 20th century) to produce low-cost copies of drawings and diagrams (blueprints).
Anna Atkins
- Born in Tunbridge, Kent in 1799 and “received an unusually scientific education for a woman of her time” due to the influence of her father, John George Children, a chemist, mineralogist and zoologist.
- Had a strong interest in botany, collecting many samples and being admitted to the London Botanical Society in 1839.
- Developed an interest in photography partly influenced by her friendship with photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), who developed his ‘photogenic drawing’ technique partly due to his frustration at his inability to paint scenes as his sisters did.
John Herschel Anna Atkins William Henry Fox Talbot
