Stereoscopic daguerreotype depicting a sculptural group entitled 'Psyche' at Crystal Palace

1854

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Stereoscopic daguerreotype depicting a sculptural group entitled 'Psyche' at Crystal Palace is a 1854 by Negretti, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Negretti
When & what style?: 1854 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a weird double photo of a statue. You see two almost identical views of the same group of figures—one man holding a woman, another man with wings hovering nearby. The statues stand on a small base, and the background looks like a big glass building with beams crossing it. The photo is old and blurry, but you can still make out the details. The figures look like they’re made of stone or metal, and the photo was taken in a way that tricks your eyes into seeing depth. This is a daguerreotype, an early type of photo. Check out Negretti for more.

The story of this work

Overview

A stereoscopic daguerreotype from 1854 by Negretti shows the sculptural group *Psyche* displayed at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, with the title and photographer’s details inscribed on the reverse.

Read the full account in the museum source.