Lot 312
Hill, David Octavius & Adamson, Robert
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 19 June 2018 at 12:00 BST
Description
Three Newhaven Fishermen, c.1845, calotype, 19.5 x 14.5cm, not laid-down, framed and glazed
Footnote
Note: The three fishermen pictured here are thought to be Alex Rutherford, William Ramsay and John Liston. It is possible that Hill and Adamson became interested in photographing the Newhaven fishing community, on the North side of Edinburgh, through Dr. James Fairburn, a sitter photographed by Hill and Adamson for the project surrounding the well-known 'Disruption painting'. Fairburn was the minister of the Newhaven church, and is thought to have been highly concerned with his congregation's welfare. Ford and Strong write: "Having soon raised the money to build a church…Fairburn tackled the problem of getting their boats fitted with proper decks and cabins; it is possible that Hill and Adamson's calotypes of Newhaven were taken in connection with this highly successful campaign." [Ford, Colin & Roy Strong. An Early Victorian Album, 1976, p.155]