Artwork Page for The Royal Stag

Details / Information for The Royal Stag

The Royal Stag

c. 1870

James Valentine

(British, 1815–1880)
Culture
England, 19th century
Medium
albumen print from wet collodion negative
Measurements
Image: 18.7 x 23.9 cm (7 3/8 x 9 7/16 in.); Matted: 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1992.333
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

One of the earliest photographs in this exhibition, James Valentine’s Royal Stag possesses a rare spontaneity, both for photographs of this period and for still-life images in general. In photographing a royal stag (one with antlers of twelve or more branches), Valentine gave the animal the appearance of one that had just fallen in the bright light of midday. Because the technology of the day required a nearby darkroom where the exposed negative plate could be processed immediately, it is likely that the felled stag was arranged into its artistic pose by the photographer or his staff. Valentine was a distinguished topographical and landscape photographer, printer, and publisher whose Dundee-based company became the largest and best equipped in the United Kingdom. His accomplishments were recognized when in 1868 he was appointed Photographer to the Queen.
A horizontally oriented albumen print in muted brown tones depicts a stag lying on its side with closed eyes. Large, branching antlers curve toward the lower left, while its legs extend toward the upper right across dry grass. Fine textures define the fur and ground. In the background, dark, blotchy shadows fill the top of the frame. Small white characters at the bottom center spell out the title "ROYAL STAG."

The Royal Stag

c. 1870

James Valentine

(British, 1815–1880)
England, 19th century

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