Julia Margaret Cameron – an introduction
Julia Margaret Cameron – an introduction
Introducing Julia Margaret Cameron, one of the most celebrated women in the history of photography
Julia Margaret Cameron
One of the most important and innovative photographers of the 19th century, Julia Margaret Cameron had close links to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) throughout her career – her first museum exhibition in 1865 was held here and was home to her portrait studio in 1868. Today, our collection includes over 900 of Cameron's photographs, and letters from Cameron to Sir Henry Cole, the Museum's founding director.
Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 – 79) was an ambitious and devoted pioneer of photography. Best known for her powerful portraits, she also posed her sitters – friends, family and servants – as characters from biblical, historical or allegorical stories. She was visionary in her belief of the ‘divine’ power of the medium, daring in her experiments with image making and persistent in the promotion of her work. Her photographs broke the rules: they were intentionally out of focus and often included scratches, smudges and other traces of her process.
The South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) was not only the sole museum to exhibit Cameron’s work in her lifetime, but also the institution that collected her photographs most extensively in her day.
Collection highlights
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Call, I Follow, I Follow, Let Me Die!, carbon print from copy negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1867, Isle of Wight, England -
The Double Star, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1864, Isle of Wight, England -
The Dream, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1869, Isle of Wight, England -
Charles Darwin, carbon print from copy negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1868, Isle of Wight, England -
Circe, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1865, Isle of Wight, England -
Julia Jackson, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1867, England -
Paul and Virginia, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1864, Isle of Wight, England -
The Passing of King Arthur, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1874, Isle of Wight, England -
Hosanna, albumen print from wet collodion glass negative, by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1865, Isle of Wight, England
Features
Julia Margaret Cameron's working methods
Julia Margaret Cameron's working methods
Find out about Julia Margaret Cameron's unique style of portrait photography
'Annals of my Glass House': Julia Margaret Cameron's unfinished autobiography
'Annals of my Glass House': Julia Margaret Cameron's unfinished autobiography
Discover valuable insights into her first ten years as a photographer
The real Alice in Wonderland
The real Alice in Wonderland
Meet Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll's muse and inspiration
Julia Margaret Cameron and the V&A
Julia Margaret Cameron and the V&A
Read about the Museum's support of the Victorian photographer's career.
Header image:
Background image: Call, I Follow, I Follow, Let Me Die!, photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron, 1867, England. Museum no. 15-1939 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London