Photographs

Photographs have existed in various forms from the daguerreotypes of the early 19th century right through to today’s development of digital technology.

London dealers P & D Colnaghi have been selling photographs since the 1850s while the first photographic auctions took place in London in the mid-19th century, and though slower to take hold in the US, Alfred Stieglitz established important photographic galleries in New York during the first half of the 20th century.

Some of the most collectable photographers include Julia Margaret Cameron, Ansel Adams, Cindy Sherman, and Irving Penn.


img_16-1.jpg

Brilliant Brunel – and a scandalous corset

12 December 2022

Commissioned by the 'Illustrated London Times' to document the construction of the mighty Great Eastern, the young photographer Robert Howlett (1831-58) took some of the most famous images of ship’s designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-59).

Isambard Kingdom Brunel photograph

Rare photograph of Isambard Kingdom Brunel stars in our pick of five auction highlights

02 December 2022

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a rare print showing the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel that made 12 times estimate in Gloucestershire.

img_46-1.jpg

Auction benefits from constructive thinking

28 November 2022

Paris auction Ader (28% buyer’s premium) was busy on the photographic front during Paris Photo.

img_44-1.jpg

Timing was picture perfect for Paris photograph auction

28 November 2022

Staging a photo collection sale just as a specialist fair opened proved a great choice.

img_1-1.jpg

The £126,000 photos of Darwin’s evolution

14 November 2022

A rediscovered album of 19 cartes de visite portrait photographs documenting Charles Darwin’s changing visage over three decades sold for £126,000.

img_48-1.jpg

Montmartre landmark building reaches to the sky

31 October 2022

'Paris Photo', the French capital’s annual fair dedicated to photography, holds its 25th edition at the Grand Palais Ephémère from November 10-13.

Charles Darwin photographs

Collection of Charles Darwin visiting cards coming to Essex auction

17 October 2022

An album of 19 carte de visite portrait photographs of Charles Darwin is offered in Reeman Dansie’s Fine Art auction on November 8-9.

Most Read.jpg

Top stories this week – including news of an early photograph album making over 10 times estimate

09 October 2022

The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of an 1840s album of calotype photographs bringing demand in Edinburgh.

Calotype photograph

Photos reveal a face from 1840s Scotland

03 October 2022

An exceptionally early album of calotype photographs sold for £68,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Lyon & Turnbull on September 28.

img_47-3.jpg

Tennyson portrayed by Julia Margaret Cameron

12 September 2022

Estimated at £3000-4000, this 9½ x 12in (24 x 30.5cm) albumen print by Julia Margaret Cameron of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is offered in the Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photography auction on September 15 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.

img_34-1.jpg

'Pathway to Impressionism' photography show debuts at James Hyman

05 September 2022

London exhibition outlines how French photographers started to cover a changing world

Thai Photo Album

Diplomat’s historic photos of Thailand bring demand at Winchester sale

31 August 2022

A group of photographs, letters, documents and objects relating to early 20th century Thailand appeared in a recent online sale at Winchester saleroom Rushbrooks Auctioneers (22.5% buyer’s premium including VAT).

Bethlem Museum Of The Mind 2

BADA Friends supports contemporary museum acquisition

16 August 2022

The Friends of the BADA has given £500 to support the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in the acquisition of a new work.

img_11-4.jpg

Fresh wave of demand on the cards

08 August 2022

Overseas interest in tribal art and Doulton Lambeth wares fuelled the higher prices at Cuttlestones’ (20% buyer’s premium) Penkridge sale but it was a new outbreak of cardomania which raised temperatures of collectors across England.

img_19-1.jpg

Houdini captured for once

11 July 2022

Pictured here is one of two very successful lots relating to the career of Houdini that were sold in a Chicago auction.

Souvenirs du Camp photo

Le Gray album emerges from a drawer to take a six-figure sum

30 May 2022

Gustave Le Gray’s 'Souvenirs du Camp de Châlons' sold at Phillips in London.

img_25-3.jpg

Her Majesty has a moment of reflection

30 May 2022

Perhaps the most famous 21st century image of Queen Elizabeth II is the photographic portrait taken by Canadian artist Chris Levine (b.1960) showing the monarch with her eyes closed.

img_6-1.jpg

Man Ray sets the photographic record straight

23 May 2022

Man Ray’s 'Le Violon d’Ingres' has set a new record for a photograph, selling for $10.5m (£8m) at Christie’s in New York.

Cavalry photo

French photographer Gustave Le Gray’s Napoleon III army album comes to auction

21 May 2022

Phillips will offer a recently discovered copy of Gustave Le Gray’s famous 'Souvenirs du Camp de Châlons' at auction in London next week.

img_56-1.jpg

Categories

News

Tags in this section