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Exterior view of the south front entrance of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers')

Charles Thurston Thompson

1862

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Cityscape Pavilion

Dominant colour

Exterior view of the south front entrance of the South Kensington Museum (the 'Brompton Boilers') is a 1862 photographic by Charles Thurston Thompson, a Impressionism work, depicting Pavilion, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Charles Thurston Thompson
When & what style?: 1862 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This old photo shows the south front of the South Kensington Museum in 1862. Thompson shot it when the building was still called the “Brompton Boilers.” The shot was saved by the National Art Library to teach students about design and architecture. Photography was new, but museums saw its value right away. These records helped track how the museum grew over time. Look up Thompson, Charles Thurston next.

The story of this work

Overview

A mounted albumen print depicts the exterior of the South Kensington Museum’s south front entrance, featuring a covered porch above a large cavernous opening. In the background, a sculpture on a pedestal stands within the entrance’s architectural framing. The photograph is part of a historical record documenting the museum’s development and the role of photography in architectural study.

Read the full account in the museum source.