CONGRESS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, 



1894. 



Report of the Sub-Committee on the 

 Photographic Survey of England and 

 Wales. 



The Sub-Committee has considered the subject referred to it by 

 the Congress, as to the best method of promoting- a general Photographic 

 Record of the Country on the lines adopted by the Society for the 

 Photographic Survey of the County of Warwick. 



The Sub-Committee is of opinion that the establishment of such a 

 general Photographic Record of all works of antiquity is of the 

 highest importance, and that the Societies in Union should use their 

 best efforts to establish, for their particular counties, associations on 

 the basis of that so successfully initiated by the Warwickshire Society, 

 and followed by the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 



It may be expected that Societies organized on these lines, besides 

 being of the greatest value to antiquaries, will be readily supported by 

 the many interested in photography, who will be glad to feel that their 

 efforts are incorporated and preserved for ever in what will eventually 

 become a national collection. A more intelligent interest will be 

 created in what is often at present a desultory and useless amusement, 

 and the Archaeological Societies will doubtless be strengthened by the 

 addition of many intelligent members. 



The following Regulations are suggested for adoption : — 



1. That all photographs be as large as possible, whole 

 plate being preferred, but in no case less than \ plate. 



2. That they be printed in permanent process. 



3. That while artistic effect is a valuable addition to a 

 picture, it should not be achieved at the sacrifice of the work 

 illustrated, but the point of view should be chosen to show as 

 clearly as possible the details of the subject. 



This is especially important in the case of tombs, effigies, and various 

 architectural details, where it will often be impossible to combine 

 picturesque effect and valuable record. While, therefore, it will be 

 necessary to keep up a certain standard of artistic skill, plates should be 

 preferred which clearly show architectural or other facts that can only be 

 adequately recorded by the deliberate sacrifice of picturesque effect. 



