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On the deck of SS Great Eastern by Robert Howlett, 1857
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On the Deck of the Leviathan (Great Eastern)
The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites and salt, which creates a glossy surface to hold light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then sensitized in a solution of silver nitrate, and exposed in a camera or under a negative. After exposure, the print is developed in a solution of gallic acid and silver nitrate, which reduces the silver salts to metallic silver and creates the final image. The albumen print process was widely used for commercial and fine art photography in the 19th century and produced high-quality, detailed images with a distinctive glossy finish.
Robert Howlett (1831–1858) was a British photographer best known for his association with the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Howlett is best known for his iconic photograph of Brunel standing in front of the launching chains of the SS Great Eastern, one of the largest ships of its time. Born in 1831, Howlett developed an interest in photography and became associated with the South Kensington School of Art. His career flourished in the early 1850s and he became known for his portrait photography. However, Howlett's most significant work came from his collaboration with Brunel in documenting the construction of the SS Great Eastern. The SS Great Eastern was a revolutionary ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Howlett's photographs of the ship's construction and launch are considered masterpieces of early documentary photography. The iconic image of Brunel in his top hat with the massive chains of the ship behind him has become an enduring symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Tragically, Robert Howlett's promising career was cut short when he died in 1858 at the age of 27. Despite his short life, his contributions to early photography, particularly in documenting the progress of the Industrial Age, have left a lasting legacy.
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