Julia Margaret Cameron
1815–1879 · United Kingdom / India
The portrait as an apparition.
Explore 8 works ↓
Julia Margaret Cameron Details on Google Art Project · negative 1864; print about 1875
Public domain · Artwork record
The story
Cameron took up photography in adulthood and turned those around her into models for portraits and scenes inspired by literature or religion. She embraced sometimes uncertain focus, close framing and the strong presence of faces. Far from treating it as a domestic pastime, she exhibited, published and sold her images. Her work claimed an emotional intensity and artistic ambition specific to photography.
Understanding the work
Look at how blur, side lighting and proximity change the presence of a face. Avoid equating every technical imprecision with a lack of skill or intention.
Key works and series
Portraits; illustrations for Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.
Sources & further exploration
A journey through images.
8 worksClick an image to enlarge it. Captions, collections and reuse conditions appear below each work. Captions describe the photographs; the source records retain catalogue titles and provide context.
Julia Margaret Cameron Details on Google Art Project · negative 1864; print about 1875
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron (British, born India, 1815 - 1879) (1815 - 1879) – photographer (British) Details on Google Art Project · 1865
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1868
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1868
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1866
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1872
Public domain · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1865
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Open Access
CC0 — The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
Julia Margaret Cameron · 1864
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Open Access
CC0 — The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
Works in collections.
10 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
