Country House Camera by Christopher Simon Sykes

COUNTRY HOUSE CAMERA is first and foremost an extraordinary collection of photographs. Discovered by Christopher Simon Sykes in the attics, trunks and dust-covered albums of the great country houses of Britain and Ireland, they provide an unforgettable picture of country house life from the 1850s to the 1930s. Essentially private family pictures taken by amateur photographers – the country house owners themselves or their friends and relations – they provide an intimate self-portrait of upper-class life at its zenith, as well as chronicling the changes that have overtaken it. The country house can claim to be the birthplace of photography in England, through William Fox Talbot’s work in the 1830s at Lacock Abbey. In its pioneer years, the camera continues to appeal to the aristocracy. In an age when most ladies dabbled in watercolours and many gentlemen pursued an interest in science, photography provided the perfect pastime; and they had the indispensable requirements; leisure, money and space. The early affinity between the camera and the country house continued during the second half of the 19th century and up to the 1930s, yet the work of the country house photographers has remained largely undiscovered. The author’s researches have revealed the work of hitherto unrecognized aristocratic photographers whose ability compares with that of the great names in early photography. Lady Lucy Bridgemen, who died in a drawing-room fire in 1858, took her remarkable pictures several years before Julia Margaret Cameron ever held a camera. Other talented amateurs whose work is shown here include Lady Jocelyn, Lady Clonbrock and Beatrice, Countess of Durham. Over 300 black-and-white photographs. This 1980 Weidenfeld and Nicolson Hardcover is in good condition. Heavy and large - additional postage may be required. Dust jacket price clipped and has yellowed with some light markings. Otherwise good condition.

ISBN: 9780297776895 SKU: 1541636 Note: Any image shown is from a stock photo and is not the actual book.