First Shots: Early War Photography 1848-60
Opening September 2009
First Shots: Early War Photography 1848-60 launches in the National Army Museum’s new White Space Gallery on 2 September 2009. This fascinating exhibition delves into the museum’s photograph collection and showcases a selection of its earliest works by four war photography pioneers: John McCosh, Roger Fenton, James Robertson and Felice Beato.
Amongst the items on display will be some of the earliest war photographs in existence, produced by Bengal Army Surgeon John McCosh. An enthusiastic amateur, McCosh produced a remarkable series of photographs from the Second Sikh War (1848-49) and Second Burma War (1852-53). They include many of the key figures from the campaigns, such as the battle-scarred British commander, General Sir Charles Napier, and Mul Raj, the sombre ruler of Multan, as well as remarkable shots of local peoples and many splendid architectural studies.
Captivating images of the Crimean War (1854-56) by Roger Fenton will also feature. These pictures constitute a remarkable record of the campaign and include the first pictures of ordinary soldiers in a theatre of war. Amongst Fenton’s pictures are camp scenes, such as ‘L’Entente Cordial’, showing British and French soldiers at ease and portraits of commanders such as ‘Council of War’ featuring Lord Raglan, Marshal Pélissier, Omar Pasha, the commanders of the British, French and Turkish forces respectively, seated round a table. It is now believed that these photographs were taken with the aim of boosting the public image of the war in Britain, making them the first example of photography used as political propaganda.
Further revealing images of the Crimean conflict will be on display in works by James Robertson. Focussing on impressive views of the Crimean scenery, they depict the epic landscape in which the drama of conflict was played out. Robertson’s work also includes images of the captured defences of the Russian naval base of Sevastopol. They are a graphic illustration of the ferocity of the fighting that took place there.
Notes for Editors
The National Army Museum explores the impact of the British Army on the story of Britain, Europe and the world; how Britain's past has helped to shape our present and our future and how the actions of a few can affect the futures of many.
The National Army Museum was established by Royal Charter to tell the story of the Land Forces of the crown wherever they were raised. Opened by the queen in 1960, it moved to its current site in Chelsea in 1971.
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