William Henry Fox Talbot

(British, 1800–1877)

William Henry Fox Talbot was one of the early inventors of photography. At the same time Louis Daguerre developed daguerreotypes in Paris, Talbot had begun producing calotypes, which employed a solution of sodium to fix photosensitive paper after its exposure to light. “How charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durably, and remain fixed upon the paper,” he once mused. Born on February 11, 1800 in Dorset, United Kingdom, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and was a scholar in a number of fields including chemistry, Egyptology, art history, and botany. The notion of a photograph dawned on Talbot in 1833 while he was using a camera lucida as an aid in drawing the Italian countryside near Lake Como. Dissatisfied with his inability capture the beauty of the refracted image he saw, the artist began experimenting with chemical solutions to fix images on paper coated with silver nitrate. In the earliest of these attempts, he successfully captured exact silhouettes of botanical specimens through suspending them in glass above the paper and exposing them to the sun. In the decades that followed, Talbot continued his attempts at creating permanent images up until his death on September 17, 1877 in Lacock, United Kingdom. Though many of his calotypes remain fugitive or have deteriorated in condition, Talbot’s contribution to the future of the medium is a singular accomplishment. Today, the artist’s works are held in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others.

William Henry Fox Talbot News

Auctions

Sotheby's Will Auction a Hoard of the World's Earliest Photographs, Taken by 19th-Century Inventor Henry Fox Talbot—See Images Here

by Sarah Cascone
Sotheby's Will Auction a Hoard of the World's Earliest Photographs, Taken by 19th-Century Inventor Henry Fox Talbot—See Images Here
Art World

The Victoria & Albert Museum Reveals Details of New Photography Center

by Amah-Rose Abrams
The Victoria & Albert Museum Reveals Details of New Photography Center
Art World

Bradford Museum Director Defends Plans to Move Photography Collection to London's V&A

by Lorena Muñoz-Alonso
Bradford Museum Director Defends Plans to Move Photography Collection to London's V&A

William Henry Fox Talbot Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

William Henry Fox Talbot (310 results)
York minster from Lop Lane, 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

York minster from Lop Lane, 1845–1845

Sale Date: October 25, 2002

Auction Closed

The woodcutters - Nicole & Pullen..., 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

The woodcutters - Nicole & Pullen..., 1845–1845

Sale Date: May 10, 2002

Auction Closed

The open door, pl.VI, 1844–1844

William Henry Fox Talbot

The open door, pl.VI, 1844–1844

Sale Date: May 10, 2002

Auction Closed

Tom Tower, Oxford. The Martyr's..., 1842–1843

William Henry Fox Talbot

Tom Tower, Oxford. The Martyr's..., 1842–1843

Sale Date: May 10, 2002

Auction Closed

Queens College Gateway, Oxford, 1841–1841

William Henry Fox Talbot

Queens College Gateway, Oxford, 1841–1841

Sale Date: April 15, 2002

Auction Closed

An aged red cedar on the grounds of Mt. , 1841–1841

William Henry Fox Talbot

An aged red cedar on the grounds of Mt. , 1841–1841

Sale Date: October 4, 2001

Auction Closed

Articles of China, 1844–1844

William Henry Fox Talbot

Articles of China, 1844–1844

Sale Date: May 11, 2001

Auction Closed

Hight Street, Oxford, 1842–1842

William Henry Fox Talbot

Hight Street, Oxford, 1842–1842

Sale Date: May 11, 2001

Auction Closed

Articles of glass, 1844–1844

William Henry Fox Talbot

Articles of glass, 1844–1844

Sale Date: May 11, 2001

Auction Closed

Nelson's column under construction, 1844–1844

William Henry Fox Talbot

Nelson's column under construction, 1844–1844

Sale Date: May 10, 2001

Auction Closed

Group of Talbot's daughters, Ela..., 1843–1843

William Henry Fox Talbot

Group of Talbot's daughters, Ela..., 1843–1843

Sale Date: May 10, 2001

Auction Closed

Samples of lace, 1839–1839

William Henry Fox Talbot

Samples of lace, 1839–1839

Sale Date: May 10, 2001

Auction Closed

The ancient vestry: Study of the Rev...., 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

The ancient vestry: Study of the Rev...., 1845–1845

Sale Date: May 10, 2001

Auction Closed

Wellington Arch, Hyde Park corner, London, 1846–1846

William Henry Fox Talbot

Wellington Arch, Hyde Park corner, London, 1846–1846

Sale Date: May 10, 2001

Auction Closed

Canterbury Hotel, Paris, 1843–1843

William Henry Fox Talbot

Canterbury Hotel, Paris, 1843–1843

Sale Date: November 25, 2000

Auction Closed

The Hungerford Suspension Bridge and..., 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

The Hungerford Suspension Bridge and..., 1845–1845

Sale Date: October 12, 2000

Auction Closed

Detail of Orleans Cathedral, 1843–1843

William Henry Fox Talbot

Detail of Orleans Cathedral, 1843–1843

Sale Date: October 12, 2000

Auction Closed

River view with bridge, 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

River view with bridge, 1845–1845

Sale Date: May 5, 2000

Auction Closed

Reverend Calvert Jones seated in the..., 1847–1847

William Henry Fox Talbot

Reverend Calvert Jones seated in the..., 1847–1847

Sale Date: May 5, 2000

Auction Closed

The cloisters of Lacock Abbey, pl.16, 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

The cloisters of Lacock Abbey, pl.16, 1845–1845

Sale Date: May 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Lincoln's Inn, New Hall Library, 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

Lincoln's Inn, New Hall Library, 1845–1845

Sale Date: May 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Plant impression, 1839–1839

William Henry Fox Talbot

Plant impression, 1839–1839

Sale Date: May 4, 2000

Auction Closed

Lace, 1843–1843

William Henry Fox Talbot

Lace, 1843–1843

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

York Minster Cathedral, from Lob Lane, 1845–1845

William Henry Fox Talbot

York Minster Cathedral, from Lob Lane, 1845–1845

Sale Date: April 6, 2000

Auction Closed

English (US)

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