Two pioneers of photography are encapsulated in this famous image. It was taken in 1839 by the ambitious and important early photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-79) and depicts the polymath Sir John Herschel (1792-1871).
Herschel took an active interest in photography from its earliest days, coining the term ‘photography’ and inventing the photographic use of sensitised paper among other achievements.
The 12 x 9½in (30 x 24cm) portrait is one of a series of four taken at Herschel’s home in Kent and has passed by direct descent from the sitter to the Dominic Winter photography sale in Cirencester on March 9.
Estimate £30,000-50,000.