按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
change of color was effected in the chloride of gold by the agency of light； and gave it as her opinion that words might be written in this way。 These incidents are considered as the first steps towards the discovery of the Photogenic art。
Mr。 Wedgwood's experiments can scarcely be said to be any improvement on them since he failed to bring them to practical usefulness； and his countrymen will have to be satisfied with awarding the honor of its complete adaptation to practical purposes； to MM。 Niepce and Daguerre of France； and to Professors Draper； and Morse of New…York。
These gentlemenMM。 Niepce and Daguerrepursued the subject simultaneously； without either； however being aware of the experiments of his colleague in science。 For several years； each pursued his researches individually until chance made them acquainted； when they entered into co…partnership； and conjointly brought the art almost to perfection。
M。 Niepce presented his first paper on the subject to the Royal Society in 1827； naming his discovery Heliography。 What led him to the study of the principles of the art I have no means； at present； of knowing； but it was probably owing to the facts recorded by the Alchemists； Mrs。 Fulhame and others； already mentioned。 But M。 Daguerre； who is a celebrated dioramic painter； being desirous of employing some of the singularly changeable salts of silver to produce a peculiar class of effects in his paintings； was led to pursue an investigation which resulted in the discovery of the Daguerreotype； or Photogenic drawing on plates of copper coated with silver。
To this gentlemanto his liberalityare we Americans indebted for the free use of his invention； and the large and increasing class of Daguerrean artists of this country should hold him in the most profound respect for it。 He was not willing that it should be confined to a few individuals who might monopolise the benefits to be derived from its practice； and shut out all chance of improvement。 Like a true； noble hearted French gentleman he desired that his invention should spread freely throughout the whole world。 With these views he opened negociations with the French government which were concluded most favorably to both the inventors； and France has the 〃glory of endowing the whole world of science and art with one of the most surprising discoveries that honor the land。〃
Notwithstanding this； it has been patented in England and the result is what might have been expected： English pictures are far below the standard of excellence of those taken by American artists。 I have seen some medium portraits； for which a guinea each had been paid； and taken too； by a celebrated artist； that our poorest Daguerreotypists would be ashamed to show to a second person； much less suffer to leave their rooms。
CALOTYPE； the name given to one of the methods of Photogenic drawing on paper； discovered； and perfected by Mr。 Fox Talbot of England； is precisely in the same predicament； not only in that country but in the United States； Mr。 Talbot being patentee in both。 He is a man of some wealth； I believe； but he demands so high a price for a single right in this country； that none can be found who have the temerity to purchase。
The execution of his pictures is also inferior to those taken by the German artists； and I would remark en passant； that the Messrs。 Mead exhibited at the last fair of the American Institute； （of 1848；） four Calotypes； which one of the firm brought from Germany last Spring； that for beauty； depth of tone and excellence of execution surpass the finest steel engraving。
When Mr。 Talbot's patent for the United States expires and our ingenious Yankee boys have the opportunity； I have not the slightest doubt of the Calotype； in their hands； entirely superceding the Daguerreotype。
Let them； therefore； study the principles of the art as laid down in this little work； experiment； practice and perfect themselves in it； and when that time does arrive be prepared to produce that degree of excellence in Calotype they have already obtained in Daguerreotype。
It is to Professor Samuel F。 B。 Morse； the distinguished inventor of the Magnetic Telegraph； of New York； that we are indebted for the application of Photography； to portrait taking。 He was in Paris； for the purpose of presenting to the scientific world his Electro…Magnetic Telegraph； at the time； （1838；） M。 Daguerre announced his splendid discovery； and its astounding results having an important bearing on the arts of design arrested his attention。 In his letter to me on the subject； the Professor gives the following interesting facts。
〃The process was a secret； and negociations were then in progress； for the disclosure of it to the public between the French government and the distinguished discoverer。 M。 Daguerre had shown his results to the king； and to a few only of the distinguished savans； and by the advice of M。 Arago； had determined to wait the action of the French Chambers； before showing them to any other persons。 I was exceedingly desirous of seeing them； but knew not how to approach M。 Daguerre who was a stranger to me。 On mentioning my desire to Robert Walsh； Esq。； our worthy Consul； he said to me； 'state that you are an American； the inventor of the Telegraph； request to see them； and invite him in turn to see the Telegraph； and I know enough of the urbanity and liberal feelings of the French； to insure you an invitation。' I was successfull in my application； and with a young friend； since deceased； the promising son of Edward Delevan； Esq。； I passed a most delightful hour with M。 Daguerre； and his enchanting sun…pictures。 My letter containing an account of this visit； and these pictures； was the first announcement in this country of this splendid discovery。〃
〃I may here add the singular sequel to this visit。 On the succeeding day M。 Daguerre paid me a visit to see the Telegraph and witness its operations。 He seemed much gratified and remained with me perhaps two hours； two melancholy hours to him； as they afterwards proved； or while he was with me； his buildings； including his diorama； his studio； his laboratory； with all the beautiful pictures I had seen the day before； were consumed by fire。 Fortunately for mankind； matter only was consumed； the soul and mind of the genius； and the process were still in existence。〃
On his return home； Professor Morse waited with impatience for the revelation of M。 Daguerre's process； and no sooner was it published than he procured a copy of the work containing it； and at once commenced taking Daguerreotype pictures。 At first his object was solely to furnish his studio with studies from nature； but his experiments led him into a belief of the practicability of procuring portraits by the process； and he was undoubtedly the first whose attempts were attended with success。 Thinking； at that time； that it was necessary to place the sitters in a very strong light； they were all taken with their eyes closed。
Others were experimenting at the same time； among them Mr。 Wolcott and Prof。 Draper； and Mr。 Morse； with his acustomed modesty； thinks that it would be difficult to say to whom is due the credit of the first Daguerreotype portrait。 At all events； so far as my knowledge serves me； Professor Morse deserves the laurel wreath； as from him originated the first of our inumerable class of Daguerreotypists； and many of his pupils have carried the manipulation to very great perfection。 In connection with this matter I will give the concluding paragraph of a private letter from the Professor to me； He says。
〃If mine were the first； other experimenters soon made better results； and if there are any who dispute that I was first； I shall have no argument with them； for I was not so anxious to be the first to produce the result； as to produce it in any way。 I esteem it but the natural carrying out of the wonderful discovery； and that the credit was after all due to Daguerre。 I lay no claim to any improvements。〃
Since I commenced the compilation of this work； I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of an American gentlemanJames M。 Wattles Esq。 who as early as 1828and it will be seen； by what I have already stated； that this is about the same date of M。 Niepce's discoveryhad his attention attracted to the subject of Photography； or as he termed it 〃Solar picture drawing；〃 while taking landscape views by means of the camera…obscura。 When we reflect upon all the circumstances connected with his experiments； the great disadvantages under which be labored； and his extreme youthfullness； we cannot but feel a national prideyet wonderthat a mere yankee boy； surrounded by the deepest forests； hundred of miles from the populous portion of our country； without the necessary materials； or resources for procuring them； should by the force of his natural genius make a discovery； and put it in practical use； to accomplish which； the most learned philosophers of Europe； with every requisite apparatus； and a profound knowledge of chemistryspent years of toil to accomplish。 How much more latent talent may now be slumbering from the very same cause which kept Mr。 Wattles from publicly revealing his discoveries； viz； want of encouragementridicule！
At the time