Two Newhaven fishwives, perhaps Mrs Elizabeth (Johnstone) Hall on the right
About this artwork
This calotype of two fishwives is one of about 120 photographs by Hill and Adamson that document the life and work of the fishermen and women of Newhaven, an independent fishing village to the north of Edinburgh. Whilst the men went out to sea, the women did most of the land work, such as gutting and preparing the fish and carrying them up into town to sell. Their distinctive striped dresses and natural beauty made them a tourist attraction and they were admired for their strong and heroic character. Because of the dangerous work of their men at sea, the women’s life-long friendships were crucial in creating a close-knit community that cared for those in need, including the widows and orphans.
Updated before 2020
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artists:
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title:Two Newhaven fishwives, perhaps Mrs Elizabeth (Johnstone) Hall on the right
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date created:1843 - 1847
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materials:Salted paper print
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measurements:29.90 x 22.80 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased from Howard Ricketts 1975, who purchased the Royal Scottish Academy albums
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accession number:PGP HA 328
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subject:
David Octavius Hill
David Octavius Hill
A painter and a lithographer by training, David Octavius Hill is best remembered for the beauty of the calotypes he and Robert Adamson produced together. Hill was a sociable and kind-hearted man who did much to support the arts in Scotland and between 1830 and 1836 he was the unpaid Secretary of...