Victorian Giants: Birth of Art Photography at National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery in London will present 'Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography' from March 1 to May 20, 2018. The exhibition features portraits of Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, alongside works by photography pioneers Julia Margaret Cameron, Oscar Rejlander, and Lady Clementina Hawarden. Curated by Phillip Prodger, the show explores Victorian society and the experimental nature of early photography, including controversial practices such as photographing children in swimsuits or nude. Carroll and Rejlander were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The exhibition aims to challenge perceptions of Victorian photography as stiff and formal, highlighting its creative energy and expressive power.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography' runs March 1 to May 20, 2018 at National Portrait Gallery, London.
- Features portraits of Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.
- Includes works by Lewis Carroll, Julia Margaret Cameron, Oscar Rejlander, and Lady Clementina Hawarden.
- Curated by Phillip Prodger.
- Explores Victorian society and early photography techniques.
- Carroll and Rejlander faced accusations of pedophilia for photographing children in revealing attire.
- Rejlander invented a technique combining photomontage and chemical processes.
- The exhibition aims to show the expressive power and creativity of Victorian photography.
Entities
Artists
- Lewis Carroll
- Charles Lutwidge Dodgson
- Alice Liddell
- Julia Margaret Cameron
- Oscar Rejlander
- Lady Clementina Hawarden
- Phillip Prodger
Institutions
- National Portrait Gallery
- Walt Disney
- Artribune
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- England