Notonly does it presents a glimpse at the private lives of Australian couples through rare portrait photographs from the 19th century, but it also gives an insight into the lives of the people captured in these slow, painstaking and relatively expensive sittings.
This effect was liberalising. The invention and proliferation of photography during the second half of the nineteenth century created a revolution in representation, particularly in the way that people chose to represent themselves. While painted portraits were the preserve of the well-to-do, photography democratised the art of portraiture, opening it up to anyone wishing to celebrate, document and preserve the likenesses of loved-ones and intimates. Surviving photographic portraits from this era – from the hauntingly intense faces captured in daguerreotypes of the 1840s, and ambrotypes of individuals, couples and family groups - including the coloured ambrotype of Thomas Glaister, ca 1858 - to those popularised by the cartes de visite of later decades including the coloured ambrotypes by Thomas Glaister, ca 1858, to those popularised by the cartes de visite of later decades.They all reveal both of the technical developments in the medium of photography and of the sensibilities and attitudes of the people they depict.
A gem-like exhibition of examples of early portrait photography, the exhibition also includes drawings, paintings, miniatures and silhouettes in an exhibition charting an easily obscured but nevertheless intriguing aspect of Australian history.
Husbands & Wives will be held until 11th July 2010 at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. (Yes, the one in Australia, and not in London!). However, with the marvels of the internet, you can watch an ABC news review of this exhibition here. And if that video clip entices you to make that trip half-way round the world, details of the exhibition can be found in the 'Events' section.
Photo: Ambrotype by Thomas Glaister ca 1858
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