4035 - Fenton, Roger

Fenton, Roger Generals and regiments of the Crimean War from Photographic Pictures of the Seat of War in the Crimea. 1855. 12 salted paper prints, mounted to card. Each between 13,3 x 15,6 cm and 20 x 14,4 cm (mounts 60 x 44,5 cm). With captions and printed credit line on the mount: "Photographed by R. Fenton. Manchester, Published by T. Agnew & Sons, March 25th, 1856. London, P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., Paris, Moulin 23, Rue Richer. New York, Williams & Co." This group belongs to Roger Fenton’s landmark series Photographic Pictures of the Seat of War in the Crimea, published by Thomas Agnew & Sons in 1855-56. Made during Fenton’s expedition to the Crimea in 1855, the photographs portray officers, regiments, encampments and the ordered routines of military life. Deliberately avoiding the depiction of violence or suffering, Fenton’s photographs embody the Victorian ideals of stoicism and dignified heroism, and were instrumental in shaping contemporary public perception of the war. Today, they are recognized as a foundational achievement in the history of war photography. – Mounts with some light foxing, soiling, handling marks, tears and edge wear; some prints slightly faded, otherwise overall fine tonal prints in good to very good condition.