Artwork

Clementina Hawarden or Anne Bontine with Donald Cameron of Lochiel, 5 Princes Gardens

Clementina Hawarden or Anne Bontine with Donald Cameron of Lochiel, 5 Princes Gardens is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Clementina Hawarden. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This circa 1861-1862 photograph depicts a woman holding an untrimmed, thin-paper print of bare trees against a plain background.

About this work

This is a photograph made between 1861 and 1862. It shows a woman holding a print of bare trees against a plain backdrop.

The print’s thin paper and untrimmed edges suggest it was made in sunlight on the family estate. The woman could be the artist herself, making this her only known self-portrait.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

This circa 1861-1862 photograph depicts a woman holding an untrimmed, thin-paper print of bare trees against a plain background. Her identity is uncertain, attributed to either Clementina Hawarden or her sister Anne Bontine, with the former being more likely.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, possibly Clementina Hawarden herself, engages with her own photographic work—a print of bare trees, likely from the Hawarden family estate in Ireland. If confirmed as Hawarden, this would constitute her sole self-portrait.

Technique & Style

The photograph showcases Hawarden's photographic process. The untrimmed print with visible white margins from the printing frame indicates development via sunlight, highlighting her hands-on approach to the medium.

History & Provenance

The image features Donald Cameron of Lochiel, a figure of unknown connection to the Hawarden family, as indicated by the Hawarden family album. The setting is 5 Princes Gardens, suggesting an intimate, possibly familial, gathering.

Context

Created during the early 1860s, this work reflects the burgeoning practice of photography within domestic, familial contexts. Hawarden's photography often explored themes of family, identity, and the interplay between the natural and domestic spheres.

Legacy

As part of the Hawarden collection, this photograph contributes to the understanding of early photographic practices among the Victorian aristocracy. Its potential as Hawarden's self-portrait adds to the historical significance of her body of work, now housed in institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artist & collection

Artist

Clementina Hawarden

Clementina Maude, Viscountess Hawarden, commonly known as Lady Clementina Hawarden, was a Scottish amateur portrait photographer of the Victorian era. She produced over 800 photographs mostly of her adolescent daughters.