History and practise of photogenic drawing on the true principles of the Daguerréotype. With the new method of dioramic painting; secrets purchased by the French government, and by their command published for the benefit of the arts and manufactures / by L.J.M. Daguerre. Translated from the original by J.S. Memes.

  • Louis Daguerre
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History and practise of photogenic drawing on the true principles of the Daguerréotype. With the new method of dioramic painting; secrets purchased by the French government, and by their command published for the benefit of the arts and manufactures / by L.J.M. Daguerre. Translated from the original by J.S. Memes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    great relations, — its connexion with science, and its probable influence upon art. The importance of the fact, that light in its action upon bodies, can be made to pencil, by its own sponta- neous and etherial agency, the creations of beautiful nature, cannot be questioned. The science of this new art has indeed not yet been evolved. The principle, we are assured by Arago, is latent among the mysteries yet to be revealed. But no one can peruse the details and operations described in the following pages, without perceiving that by them we gain another step in advance towards that consummation to which modem physics are hastening—namely, the identity of light—electricity — magnetism — gravity. In this sublime walk, the photogenic discoveries have unfolded a “ new order of possibilities,” and will aid in leading to one mighty cause, ruling the universe of matter in a dominion, second only to the spontaneity of the Creator. To the beautiful in art, the invention has yet a nearer relation. It will improve, without materializing its processes. It will give to the artist new subjects of study, in the most difficult department of his profession — the union of grandeur in mass — with exquisite detail; but it arms him with no mechanical contri- vance, as has been feared, which may abate the honours of genius. As an English translator, it may perhaps have been expected that I should have said something on the sub- ject of priority, so often urged in my original. The question is one, in the discussion of which it is hardly possible entirely to lay aside preferences and predilec- tions, and time does not permit either the repetition of the experiments or the re-examination of the documents. J. M. London, Sept. 13th, 1839.