22 Photography as a Fine Art. 



which a judicious artist -would desire to enshrine in his work. 

 The results of Mrs. Cameron's labours may be seen at Colnaghr's, 

 in a large collection of photographs, varying considerably in 

 merit and interest, but all bearing testimony to originality of 

 purpose and artistic skill. Here we have the head of a boy,, 

 full of fire and expression, simple and grand as a sketch by 

 Correggio, which it closely resembles. There is no dead 

 mechanism of mere photography here, but emphatically a 

 work of art, instinct with life and motion. The hair flows 

 freely, as if the breeze had caught it, the outlines are soft and 

 melting, the play of light on the blooming features marvellous, 

 to behold. In another piece the same boy figures as Love 

 in Idleness, a handsome mischievous urchin playing with his 

 bow. An exceedingly well-managed group represents May 

 Day ; two other portraits are combined into an artistic and 

 effective Prospero and Miranda. Other subjects of Mrs. 

 Cameron's skill give us Esther and Ahasuerus, Friar Laurence 

 and Juliet ; while single figures, remarkably like drawings by 

 great artists, are named, The Mountain Nymph, Sweet Liberty, 

 Adriana, Sappho, Clio, Ghristabel, etc., etc. ' 



In some of these cases we do not find ourselves able to 

 follow the suggestions given by Mrs. Cameron in naming her 

 pieces, the Greek ones especially seem to us, as a rule, to have 

 much more of the character of mediaeval Italy ; but no one, 

 free from professional photographic prejudice, can see them 

 without being struck with the high degree of artistic merit 

 which they possess, and the contemplation of works so original 

 and so beautiful, leads to the conviction that photography need 

 not remain in the lower stages of a mere imitative craft. Mrs. 

 Cameron not only claims for it, but wins for it, the dignified 

 position of a fine art, and we are glad to notice that copies of 

 her works are offered for sale at very moderate prices. It is 

 good for artists as well as amateurs that there should be this 

 sort of competition. Ladies, like Mrs. Cameron, who break 

 through the conventional nonsense which attempts to scorn 

 industry the moment it seeks for profit, are doing good service 

 in their day and generation. It is probably not of the slightest 

 consequence to her whether she gains or loses by photographic 

 pursuits, but, as her works are substantially good, and capable 

 of multiplication, she is morally right in letting the public have 

 the benefit of them, and economically right in accepting what- 

 ever legitimate profit they may produce. 



