HF The History of Photography 600pág

146 The early years of photography
BEARD'S
PBOTOGWHIO .UtD DUDERllEOmE
.MINIATURES.
THE PERFECTION ATTAINED BY
MR. BEA.RD
(THE ORIGINAL PATENTEE)
IN BIB
PLACES THEM HIGH IN RANK AMONG
THE FINE ARTS.
" M'r. BeArd'1 Daguerreotypes are remarkabl" sa"S a
recent writer, " for breadth of effect and beauty of colour,
and the Phophs on Paper (finished as paintinga in water
colours or crayons) are equal to the beat miniature.a, with this
advantage, that the likeneases are ma"elloW1ly accurate. "
81, XI1'G WILLIAM
LONDON BRIDGE.
STREET,
I
Fig 14 Advertisement of Beard's
daguerreotype and calotype studio, c. 1855
picture was rendered entirely impervious to atmospheric action, thus obviating the
daguerreotype's liability to tarnish by oxidation. In 18 52 Beard's studio No. l at the
Polytechnic Institution was to let; the second establishment, in Parliament Street,
was taken over soon afterwards by another photographer, John Watkins; the
business in Liverpool was taken over by its former manager, James F. Foard. Beard
Fig 14 retained only his studio in King William Street (London Bridge), which had been
for some years under the management of his son Henry.
While Beard moved down in the world, Claudet moved up. In 1851 he gave up
his principal establishment in King William Street (now William IV Street) and
moved to 107 Regent Street, the southern end of which, around Vigo Street and
the Quadrant, was almost monopolized by photographers : their 'glass-houses' gave
Glasshouse Street its name.
In Regent Street Claudet set up a 'temple to photography' after his own heart. He
engaged Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, to reconstruct the
existing building in Renaissance style. The ground floor contained showrooms and
store-rooms, the first floor darkrooms and offices, the second floor waiting-rooms,
artists' rooms, and the studio. The waiting-rooms were decorated by a French artist,
Hervieu, with paintings illustrating the history of photography. Here the visitor
learnt that photography is the outcome of the labours of philosophers all through the
ages. Looking around he saw fourteen medallion portraits of men who promoted
the science of photography and stereoscopy, from Roger Bacon to Sir David Brewster.
Allegorical paintings described the progress of the arts-sculpture, painting,
engraving, lithography, and the application of the camera obscura to photography