[Assyrian Court, Facade Towards the Nave; Elevated View of Assyrian Court; Greek and Roman Sculpture Court; The Three Graces]

Art Historical Context

Step into the grand halls of 19th-century London through Philip Henry Delamotte's captivating series of albumen silver prints, created around 1859. Theseutive photographs—each measuring just 7.9 x 8.1 cm—offer intimate elevated and facade views of the Assyrian Court the nave, the Assyrian Court itself the Greek and Roman Sculpture Court, and iconic "Three Graces." Delam, a pioneering British photographer renowned for architectural documentation, masterfully captured the Crystal Palace's opulent interiors, where plaster casts of ancient Assyrian reliefs and classical sculptures recreated the splendor of antiquity for Victorian audiences. The albumen silver process, printed from glass negatives, was the gold standard of the era, yielding sharp details and rich tones that preserved the intricate carvings and soaring architecture with remarkable fidelity. These images not only highlight the technical prowess of early photography but also reflect the 1850s fascination with global heritage, spurred by the Great Exhibition of 1851. Displayed in the Crystal Palace's thematic courts, these replicas educated and awed visitors, blending education with spectacle. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection, these prints serve as precious time capsules. The Crystal Palace's tragic destruction by fire in 1936 renders Delamotte's work an invaluable record of a lost architectural marvel, inviting us to marvel at how photography bridged past and present.

About the Artist

Philip Henry Delamotte · 1820–1889

Delamotte was primarily an illustrator, but he also offered his services to artists as a photographer and photography teacher. His most famous students were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. British photographer.