In planning this campaign, a number of initial thoughts had come to mind. The idea was mid Victorian, and possibly the Crimea or the Mutiny - or a revisiting of the Paris Commune. Whilst looking at some material relating to the Commune, in a private London library, I came across a photographic scrapbook that belonged to William Simpson - the artist known as 'Crimea' Simpson. I was looking for material relating to his experiences in Paris, where he was a participant in the siege and Commune.
William Simpson was a keen photographer, and I was delighted to find his photographs of the sapping and mining exercises at Chatham, in 1872. These would be turned into illustrations for The Illustrated London News.
The photographs above may be reproduced here for the first time, and they are the inspiration for this campaign, and a possible 'Victorian (Funny) Little Wars' ...
They show mining operations, with the Chatham lines in the background.
"William Simpson photographed by R. Fenton on Cathecart Hill before Sebastapol. Crimea. 1855."
Internet source.
Fascinating photos thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland