Blogs

This convening at Dimbola, Cameron's former home on the Isle of Wight, offers visits and talks reflecting on the poetry, theatricals, bohemian lifestyle, Christianity and myriad connections through Anglo-Indian society that inspired her photographs. Images have been selected from the several collections of Cameron’s work and in particular from the extensive RPS Collection at the V&A, together with others given to the V&A by Cameron herself or purchased from her.

Two recent developments have influenced the content of this event, Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters currently showing at Watts Galley (closing 4 May 2026) with an accompanying publication and also new research by Aneela de Soysa into Julia Margaret Cameron’s final years of photography in Sri Lanka.

The programme includes a series of themed talks over two days - 5 and 6 June, plus optional visits and workshops. 

Friday, 5th June – This day focuses on CAMERON + FRESHWATER, with a guided tour by Chairman Brian Hinton, a walk on Tennyson’s Trail, and talks on her life before she began her career in photography.

Saturday, 6th June – The morning focuses on CAMERON + THEATRICS, with talks on G.F. Watts, the Pattle Sisters, and Cameron’s second studio and theatre. In the afternoon, we turn to another significant chapter of her life—CAMERON + CEYLON (current day Sri Lanka) —through a series of talks and a panel discussion.

Sunday, 7th June – The convening concludes with a hands-on cyanotype workshop and a final curated walk through Freshwater.

Pre-Convening Day – Thursday, 4th June - A guided tour of Farringford, home of the Tennysons from 1853 to 1892; Queen Victoria’s Osborne House; and All Saints Church in Freshwater, the final resting place of several members of Cameron’s Freshwater circle. Contact the co-organiser directly to take part.

See the full programme and book here.

Image (detail): Julia Margaret Cameron, 'A Group of Kalutara Peasants', albumen print, 1878. RPS Collection at the V&A Museum, London.

Late spring will see two new heritage plaques being unveiled. One will be for Julia Margaret Cameron, and the second will be a new plaque for Christina Broom. The dates and locations - both in London - and how people might attend will be announced here later. 

The Colin Ford lecture recognises the significant role that Colin Ford CBE has made to British photography since the 1970s, as a curator, museum director, and scholar. This event celebrates Colin's knowledge, scholarship and long-standing interest in Julia Margaret Cameron. 2024 also sees the 150th anniversary of Cameron's Annals of My Glass House (1874) which is held in the RPS Collection at the V&A Museum, London.

Letters from Life presents live readings from correspondence between Julia Margaret Cameron and Lord Alfred Tennyson, William Thackeray, GF Watts, Sir John Herschel and Anne Thackeray Ritchie, including newly discovered letters.

Created and introduced by Kathleen McLaughlin, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

The texts will be read by Lynne Truss, Timothy West CBE and others to be announced.

Letters from Life
Monday 13 May 2024, 6 – 7.15 pm
Sir Victor Blank Lecture Theatre, Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG
Registration is free, but must be made via the Bodleian Library at the link here