Clovelly from the Hobby 1860 - 1894

Francis Bedford made this albumen silver print titled 'Clovelly from the Hobby' sometime in the mid-19th century. Bedford was part of a generation of photographers who helped shape Victorian Britain’s understanding of itself and its place in the world. This image presents an idyllic view of the village of Clovelly in North Devon, England. During the Victorian era, picturesque views like this one became increasingly popular as symbols of national identity and the natural beauty of the British Isles. The image flattens any sense of the social realities of Victorian life. Bedford produced photographs like this one for the art market, supplying prints to galleries, museums, and private collectors. Analyzing Bedford’s archive might tell us more about the cultural institutions that helped to shape the public’s perception of places like Clovelly. We can examine the popularity of such images as an insight into the social and institutional values of Victorian Britain.