[Lacock Abbey] 1840

"Lacock Abbey" is a calotype photograph by William Henry Fox Talbot from 1840. This early photographic work is a significant example of Talbot's pioneering contributions to the development of photography. The image depicts the architectural grandeur of Lacock Abbey, a historic site in England. Talbot's use of the calotype process, which employed paper sensitized with silver salts, allowed him to capture intricate details and the atmospheric nuances of the scene. This photograph, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the innovative spirit of early photography and offers a glimpse into the history of this influential art form.