The 200th anniversary of the birth of photographic pioneer, Thomas Sims (1824-1910) is 26 March. A new blog, based on recent research, looks back at his career based on the valuable insight in letters from the Wallace Correspondence Project. They reveal more about his home and business life.
The Thomas Sims collection, consisting of notebooks, letters, documents, photographic images and equipment, is held by The Amelia Scott (formerly Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery). A temporary display celebrating Sims will be on show in The Amelia’s Welcome Hall from next week.
A Wikipedia entry is also under development.
Read the post here: https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/200th-anniversary-birth-early-photographer-thomas-sims-alfred-russel-wallaces-brother-law
Image: Daguerreotype portrait of Thomas Sims as a young man. (Ref: 1936.01.6).
Comments
Fascinating ~ with that detail, in reading the article, of vulnerable humanity alonside domestic struggle while Sims endeavoured to take his photographic experiments forward ~ and with his difficulties in commercial success. Never knowing of photographs developed on porcelain that Sims produced sounds utterly exquisite. A photographers story full of pathos. What a cutthroat business was early photography? A ruthless Talbot, for all his fame, comes across. Thank you
Thanks Bobbie, I'm pleased you enjoyed reading the blog.