[Richard Westmacott]

Art Historical Context

This intimate albumen silver print from the 1860s captures the dignified likeness of Richard Westmacott, a British sculptor and son of the renowned Sir Richard Westmacott. Photographed by the esteemed studio of John and Charles Watkins, for their crisp cartes-de-visite portraits of luminaries, the image measures just 10.2 x 6.3 cm—perfectly sized for the era's popular calling-card format. These small, affordable photographs revolutionized social exchange, allowing everyday people to collect and trade images of celebrities, royalty, and artists like Westmacott. The albumen process, which coate...

About the Artist

John and Charles Watkins · 1840–1875

**John and Charles Watkins: Pioneers of Victorian Portrait Photography** John Watkins (1823–1874) and his younger brother Octavius Charles Watkins (1836–1882) were prominent British portrait photographers whose collaborative studio captured the luminaries of Victorian Britain.) Born in Raglan, Monmouthshire, Wales, John began his career around 1840, establishing a studio at 34 Parliament Street i...