Thomas Kitchenham Staveley, M.P. Ripon 1843 - 1847

This calotype portrait, created by the pioneering photographic partnership Hill and Adamson, captures Thomas Kitchenham Staveley, M.P. Ripon, in a contemplative pose. Taken between 1843 and 1847, the image showcases the sharp detail and tonal range achievable with this early photographic process. Staveley's serious expression and the subtle play of light and shadow contribute to a sense of realism and intimacy, characteristic of Hill and Adamson's portraiture. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this work is a valuable document of 19th-century British society and the nascent art of photography.