D.O. Hill and W.B. Johnstone 1843 - 1847

This calotype photograph, taken by the Scottish photographic partnership of Hill and Adamson in 1843, is a portrait of D.O. Hill and W.B. Johnstone. The two men, dressed in formal attire, are standing side-by-side against a stone wall, their postures conveying a sense of both formality and natural ease. The image, which is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a prime example of the artistic potential of early photography. Hill and Adamson’s work, characterized by their sharp focus and careful composition, helped to elevate photography as a legitimate art form in the mid-19th century.