Category Archives: ramblings

ramblings

Advent 24

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Whitehall from Trafalgar Square; 1839; Daguerreotype by M de St Croix

This image is, for me, especially interesting. It is one of the earliest daguerreotype photographs of England, taken when Frenchman M de St Croix was in London demonstrating Louis Daguerre’s pioneering photographic process during September and December 1839. The statue in the foreground is Le Sueur’s statue of Charles I on horseback which stands at the top of Whitehall on the south edge of Trafalgar Square — on the spot what was originally occupied by the original Charing Cross in memory of Queen Eleanor. And it is from this spot, called Charing Cross, that all distances are traditionally measured. I the dim distance is Inigo Jones’ Banqueting House; practically everything else shown in the image has subsequently disappeared. Like all daguerreotypes the original image was reversed, but is shown here in the correct orientation, as we would view the scene today.
Image © National Media Museum

ramblings

Advent 23

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Weavers Houses, Florida Street, Bethnal Green; ca. 1896

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 21

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Temple Bar shortly before its removal in 1877

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 20

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Strand; ca. 1930s

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 18

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
London smog 1952

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 17

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
St Paul’s after the Blitz

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 16

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Piccadilly Circus; 1930s

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information

ramblings

Advent 15

An Advent Calendar
Old London in Paintings and Photographs
Oxford Circus, early 20th century

Note: this image is not mine and may be copyright the original photographer/artist;
please click on the image for further information