Daguerreotype

Invented in Paris by L.J.M. Daguerre in 1839, it was the first commercial photographic process. It used a copper plate with a polished silver surface sensitized by iodine fumes which was exposed in a camera, and the image developed over heated mercury vapour. There is no negative but a reversed plate mounted behind protective glass in a decorative case. It became a widely popular process for portraiture as refinements in technique were made and exposure times considerably reduced.

Film

Watch Kaurna artist James Tylor make his self-portrait Becquerel daguerreotype, and share more about the techniques involved in making daguerreotypes.

An audio-described version of this film is available.

 

Daguerreotypes in the Gallery's Collection

    Charles John Canning, Earl Canning,    by Richard Beard Studio,    1840s,    NPG P119,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Charles John Canning, Earl Canning, by Richard Beard Studio, 1840s
    George Francis Robert Harris, 3rd Baron Harris,    by Richard Beard Studio,    1840s,    NPG P117,    © National Portrait Gallery, London George Francis Robert Harris, 3rd Baron Harris, by Richard Beard Studio, 1840s
    Sir Marc Isambard Brunel,    by Unknown photographer,    circa 1845,    NPG P578,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir Marc Isambard Brunel, by Unknown photographer, circa 1845
    Sir George Scharf,    by William Edward Kilburn,    circa 1847,    NPG P859,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir George Scharf, by William Edward Kilburn, circa 1847
    Charles Babbage,    by Antoine Claudet,    circa 1847-1851,    NPG P28,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Charles Babbage, by Antoine Claudet, circa 1847-1851
    Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Bt,    by John Jabez Edwin Mayall,    circa 1848,    NPG P660,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Bt, by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, circa 1848
    Jenny Lind; Marietta Alboni, Countess Pepoli (née Maria Anna Marzia),    by William Edward Kilburn,    1848,    NPG P956,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Jenny Lind; Marietta Alboni, Countess Pepoli (née Maria Anna Marzia), by William Edward Kilburn, 1848
    John Holmes,    after a wax medallion by Richard Cockle Lucas,    mid 19th century, based on a work of 1849-1850,    NPG 1781a,    © National Portrait Gallery, London John Holmes, after a wax medallion by Richard Cockle Lucas, mid 19th century, based on a work of 1849-1850
    Henry Brinley Richards,    by Unknown photographer,    circa 1850,    NPG P1317,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Henry Brinley Richards, by Unknown photographer, circa 1850
    Robert Stephenson,    by Unknown photographer,    circa 1851,    NPG P4,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Robert Stephenson, by Unknown photographer, circa 1851
    Sir Charles Wheatstone and his family,    by Antoine Claudet,    1851-1852,    NPG P154,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir Charles Wheatstone and his family, by Antoine Claudet, 1851-1852
    Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker,    by William Edward Kilburn,    circa 1852,    NPG P1027,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, by William Edward Kilburn, circa 1852