Collection Selection Boxes – Women in Photography

Julia Margaret Cameron (1815 – 79)

Annie

The photographer

Julia Margaret Cameron was one of the most important photographers of the 19th century. Her photographs were rule-breaking: purposely out of focus, often including scratches, smudges and other traces of the artist's process. Best known for her powerful portraits, she also posed her sitters – friends, family and servants – as characters from biblical, historical or allegorical stories. Born in Calcutta, Cameron was introduced to photography in 1842 by the British astronomer Sir John Herschel, but didn't take the medium seriously until she was 48; by then married with six children, and living in England. Her relationship to the V&A is significant and she was to correspond with Sir Henry Cole, the V&A's founder, throughout her lifetime. In 1865, the museum purchased and exhibited 80 of her photographs and three years later, offered her two rooms to use as a portrait studio, essentially making her the museum's first artist-in-residence. Today the V&A holds over 900 photographs by Cameron, making it the largest collection of her work in the world.

The photograph

Julia Margaret Cameron made this portrait of Annie Philpot, the daughter of a family staying on the Isle of Wight, within a month of receiving her first camera. It represents one of her earliest photographs, and some examples are inscribed 'My first success'. She later recounted, 'I was in a transport of delight. I ran all over the house to search for gifts for the child. I felt as if she entirely had made the picture.' This is one of approximately 70 photographs that belonged to Cameron's mentor and friend, the artist G.F. Watts. Many works from this group are unique, which suggests that Cameron was not fully satisfied with them. Some may seem 'defective' but all contribute to our understanding of Cameron’s working process and the photographs that did meet her standards.