Neapolitan Conveyance - Copy of a Painting at Lacock Abbey c. 1840

"Neapolitan Conveyance" is a calotype photograph by William Henry Fox Talbot, a pioneer of photography. Taken around 1840, this image depicts a scene from Italy with a horse-drawn carriage full of people, captured in a fleeting moment. The image shows Talbot's early experimentation with the calotype process, evident in the soft focus and subtle details. The scene is set against a backdrop of blurred background, suggesting the movement of the carriage. The photograph's artistic merit lies in its ability to capture a real-life scene with an almost painterly quality. This work, currently at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to Talbot's pioneering role in the history of photography, particularly in documenting everyday life through the innovative calotype process.