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Canon on Display

The Photographic Establishment of the War Department

1858

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Cannon

Dominant colour

Canon on Display is a 1858 photographic by The Photographic Establishment of the War Department, a Impressionism work, depicting Cannon, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: The Photographic Establishment of the War Department
When & what style?: 1858 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a photograph of a cannon on display. The cannon is positioned in the foreground, with its barrel pointing to the right. In the background, there are several other cannons and what appears to be a bridge or a building. The photograph is in black and white, and it has a sepia tone. The cannon is the main focus of the photograph, and it is depicted in great detail. The photograph also captures the surroundings, which provide context for the cannon's display. The photograph is a great example of the Realism movement, which focused on depicting everyday life and objects in a realistic and detailed way.

The story of this work

Overview

A sepia-toned photograph from 1858, produced by the Photographic Establishment of the War Department, shows a cannon mounted on display in an outdoor yard. Two small piles of cannonballs are positioned on the ground in front of the cannon.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

The Photographic Establishment of the War Department

These are crisp black-and-white photos made for the U.S. War Department around 1858. They show pontoon bridges being built and cannons lined up like specimens, all recorded with the earliest portable darkroom equipment.…

See the richer artist page