Past

William Carrick | A Scottish Photographer in Nineteenth-Century Russia

  • 4th December 2009 − 22nd January 2010 | Scotland-Russia Institute | Admission free

Edinburgh-born artist William Carrick (1827-1878) established himself as a professional photographer in St Petersburg in 1859 and left a remarkable collection of images of Russian life. Working with his partner John MacGregor, he produced a rich series of "Russian Types", including images of street-sellers, tradesmen and other inhabitants of the capital.

Carrick also made two lengthy visits to Simbirsk province on the Volga in eastern Russia and returned with a collection of highly evocative images of provincial and rural life in the area where the infant Lenin was then growing up.

The first exhibition of Carrick's work was shown at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 1987 and this winter it will be recreated using digitally enhanced modern prints from the originals.

Presented by the Scotland Russia Forum in association with the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

As in other European capitals, portrait photography in St Petersburg was a fiercely competitive business; more difficult still for the absence of a large Russian middle class, a comparative lack of sunlight and the high cost of materials. To boost the income of his St Petersburg studio, Carrick conceived of the idea of a series of 'Russian types', produced for the tourist market in the form of small cartes de visite. These photographs, largely of street vendors, helped satisfy the curiosity of the public about the character of Russia's itinerant peasants. The occupation of the fishmonger is brought to life for the viewer by the fish which almost cascades from the container.

Fishmonger William Carrick

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As in other European capitals, portrait photography in St Petersburg was a fiercely competitive business; more difficult still for the absence of a large Russian middle class, a comparative lack of sunlight and the high cost of materials. To boost the income of his St Petersburg studio, Carrick conceived of the idea of a series of 'Russian types', produced for the tourist market in the form of small cartes de visite. These photographs, largely of street vendors, helped satisfy the curiosity of the public about the character of Russia's itinerant peasants. Here the chimney sweep is depicted with the European ball, brush and rope system of equipment; the brushes were lowered into the chimney from the roof, the weight of a lead or iron ball pulled the brush down, cleaning the flue.

Chimney Sweep William Carrick

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As in other European capitals, portrait photography in St Petersburg was a fiercely competitive business; more difficult still for the absence of a large Russian middle class, a comparative lack of sunlight and the high cost of materials. To boost the income of his St Petersburg studio, Carrick conceived of the idea of a series of 'Russian types', produced for the tourist market in the form of small cartes de visite. These photographs, largely of street vendors, helped satisfy the curiosity of the public about the character of Russia's itinerant peasants. This photograph is of a young abacus seller. An abacus is a calculation tool, consisting of a wooden frame with beads sliding on metal wires and is still used in Russian shops and markets today.

An Abacus Seller, St Petersburg William Carrick

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