About This Image

George Washington Wilson was born in Scotland on February 7, 1823. A hugely successful businessman, Wilson had left home at 12 to be a carpenter, and subsequently trained as a portrait painter before turning to photography.After studying art in Edinburgh and Paris, Wilson returned to his native city of Aberdeen in 1849 and built his first camera. Wilson ventured into portrait photography in 1852, setting up a portrait studio with John Hay on 25 Crown Street in Aberdeen. From there, aided by his well-developed technical and commercial acumen and a contract to photograph the Royal Family while documenting the building of Balmoral Castle in 1854-1855, he established himself as one of Scotland's premier photographers. He became the official Scottish photographer to the Royal Family in 1860.Wilson was a founding member in 1863 of the Liverpool Amateur Photographic Association. He went on to pioneer techniques for photography outside of the studio and the mass production of photographic prints. By 1864 he claimed to have sold over half a million prints.By 1880 he had established the largest publishing company of topographical views in Britain called "G.W. Wilson & Co."Wilson died on March 9, 1893. At the time of his death his business employed 40 staff members and was one of the largest publishers of photographic prints in the world, competing with James Valentine, who was also a prolific photographer with a large company in Dundee.Over 40,000 of Wilson's photographic plates still exist today, largely due to the meticulous washing and chemical treatments he insisted on. Aberdeen University is in possession of those donated by an Aberdeen photographer, the late Archibald J.B. Strachan, in 1958. The university also cares for a second significant collection discovered in a private house in Aberdeen in 1970.

Most U.S. domestic Fed Ex ground shipping (Media Mail for books) is free of charge except for larger and heavier items, or unless the buyer wants express shipping (email us your requests for the latter). International shipping and insurance costs will be added to the price and must be paid for by the buyer. Pennsylvania buyers must pay appropriate local sales tax. International clients are responsible for their local customs duties and taxes, which will be charged by Fed Ex, which will contact the client prior to delivery.

Moroccan Woman in Tangiers
George Washington Wilson Studio Moroccan Woman in Tangiers

Price $1,500

Main Image
Description

Ref.# 15234

Medium Albumen print

Mount unmounted

Photo Date 1875c  Print Date 1870s

Dimensions 8-1/4 x 6-1/2 in. (210 x 165 mm)

Photo Country Morocco

Photographer Country United Kingdom (UK)

Contact

Alex Novak and Marthe Smith

Email info@vintageworks.net

Phone +1-215-518-6962

Company
Contemporary Works / Vintage Works, Ltd.



 

Share This

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on linkedinShare on pinterestShare on tumblrShare via email