SMALL PANORAMA

Treatment completed May 2023

Photographer ········· Edward Bringhurst (1884-1939)
Title ········· Shipley-Bringhurst-Hargraves panoramic photograph
Year ······ c. 1905
Medium ········· Silver Gelatin POP
Dimensions (H x W): 3 7/8” x 12”
Owner ······· Special Collections, University of Delaware Library

Description

The photograph is a high-gloss gelatin silver photograph, with a reddish brown image tone and edges of the negative visible around the perimeter of the print. The unmounted photograph is comprised of a toned silver image, gelatin binder, and a baryta paper support. The date of production and image tone suggest this may be a printed-out silver gelatin photograph versus a develop-out silver gelatin.

There are lightly visible inscriptions from the negative printed onto the photograph, visible in the margins, although written in reverse “R10926”. Additionally there are graphite inscriptions on the verso “R10926” on middle fragment and “06” on left fragment. The image depicts a river in Europe, likely at Kilwaughter Castle in Ireland and is part of the Shipley- Bringhurst-Hargraves family paper collection at the University of Delaware. These are the family names associated with the Rockwood Mansion in north Wilmington, DE. An intact digital copy of the photograph is available on the Artstor website (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Bringhurst, Edward, c.1905, Unknown lake (probably at Kilwaughter Castle), Special Collections, University of Delaware Library

Condition Assessment

The photograph is in poor condition overall due to the print being split into three separate fragments, along with significant creases and tears crossing the print. The vertical creases and tears suggest that the print was previously stored rolled and then forced open. There are two large creases in the left and right fragments that extend from the top to the bottom of the print. The large crease in the right fragment has completely torn about an inch from both the top and bottom of the print. There are additional losses and small tears around the edges of the right fragment. There is lifting, folded, and loss of emulsion and paper fibers associated with all splits and tears.

Additionally, there are overall scattered handling creases. There is a small yellow-orange accretion near center of middle fragment, small grey-black stain (possible retouching) on top right corner of middle fragment and two small yellow stains in top left quadrant of right fragment. The image highlights appear to be slightly yellowed. On verso there is overall surface grime along with scattered foxing stains, most significantly in the left and right fragments.

Treatment Proposed

Reduced surface grime on the recto of the print using mixtures of ethanol and water applied with cotton swabs and on the verso using polyurethane cosmetic sponges and vinyl block erasers.
Consolidated lifting emulsion and loose paper fibers along tears using a solution of 2% photographic grade gelatin in deionized water.
Humidified all fragments in a humidify chamber then and flattened them between non-woven polyester fabric and blotter under weights.
Additional flattening was carried out to further reduce creases and distortions using a heated press.
Mended tears and reinforced creases using mulberry paper tissues adhered with 5% Klucel G in ethanol to the verso of the print. Previously applied mends with wheat starch paste were unsuccessful at reducing distortions.
Inpainted areas of image loss using pigments in Aquazol applied over an isolating layer of photographic grade gelatin.
Housed the print within a new Mylar sleeve with a matboard support. All materials used have passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT).