About this artwork
Amateur photographer John Muir Wood took this calotype in an unknown place in Scotland around 1850. Much of Wood’s landscape photography demonstrates great similarities to conventional landscape painting. His compositions are deliberately constructed to draw the viewer into the image and often have a very clear point of focus. In this case, the focus of the image is the ruined building on top of the hill, which reminds us that this deserted place was once inhabited. The ruined state of the building is echoed by the rocks and pebbles in the stream, which is used as the tool to lead the eye into the picture.
Updated before 2020
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artist:John Muir Wood (1805 - 1892) Scottish
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title:Landscape with ruin
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date created:About 1850
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materials:Salt paper print from a calotype negative
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measurements:24.00 x 19.50 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Sir Alan Muir Wood Collection, presented 1985
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accession number:PGP W 94
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gallery:
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subject:
John Muir Wood
John Muir Wood
John Muir Wood came from a family of Edinburgh piano makers and music publishers. He was sent abroad in 1826 to Paris and Vienna to study the piano. Returning to Edinburgh in 1828 as a music teacher, he entered the family business with his brother. His knowledge of photography may date from his...