Search the Collection

David Octavius Hill

(1802-1870), Landscape and portrait painter; pioneer photographer

Sitter associated with 22 portraits
Artist associated with 382 portraits
David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson were among the first in the world to grasp the artistic possibilities of photography. They were brought together at the Disruption of the Church of Scotland in 1843, a significant event that laid the foundations for the Free Church of Scotland. Adamson photographed the participants as studies for a proposed painting by Hill, but the two men quickly realised the potential of the new medium as an end in itself and not just as a means to an end. Between 1843 and Adamson's death in 1848, they made over 3,000 calotype images, of Edinburgh's great and good, of fisherfolk and soldiers, of visiting celebrities and of landscapes and buildings.

3 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Edinburgh Ale, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(141)

Edinburgh Ale

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(141)

A Discussion, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(143)

A Discussion

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(143)

David Octavius Hill, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(1)

David Octavius Hill

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, circa 1843
NPG P6(1)

Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(2)

Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(2)

David Octavius Hill, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(103)

David Octavius Hill

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(103)

'The Morning After' 'He greatly daring dined', by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(155)

'The Morning After' 'He greatly daring dined'

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(155)

The Covenanter's Tomb, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(221)

The Covenanter's Tomb

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(221)

McKenzie's Tomb, Greyfriars, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(228)

McKenzie's Tomb, Greyfriars

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(228)

Sir Robert Dennistoun's Tomb, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(220)

Sir Robert Dennistoun's Tomb

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(220)

The Nasmyth Tomb, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG P6(230)

The Nasmyth Tomb

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
calotype, 1843-1848
NPG P6(230)

David Octavius Hill, after Robert Adamson - NPG Ax29500

David Octavius Hill

after Robert Adamson
carbon print, 1843-1848; published 1928
NPG Ax29500

David Octavius Hill, by David Octavius Hill, and  Robert Adamson - NPG x18472

David Octavius Hill

by David Octavius Hill, and Robert Adamson
photogravure, (1843-1848)
NPG x18472

David Octavius Hill, by Thomas Annan - NPG Ax17273

David Octavius Hill

by Thomas Annan
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax17273

Category

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.