Thomas Carlyle 1867

This is a portrait photograph of Thomas Carlyle, a renowned Scottish philosopher and historian, taken by British photographer Julia Margaret Cameron in 1867. Known for her soft focus and dramatic lighting, Cameron captured Carlyle’s intense gaze and weathered features in a way that conveys his intellectual depth and powerful personality. The photograph, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, exemplifies Cameron's signature style of portraiture that blurred the lines between photography and painting.