Edward Duncombe Henry Buckley
- Artist: Hennah & Kent
- Date: circa 1864
- Medium: albumen carte-de-visite
- Dimensions: 3 1/2 in. x 2 3/8 in. (90 mm x 59 mm) image size
- Portrays: Edward Duncombe Henry Buckley
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
"Edward Duncombe Henry Buckley"
In this tiny portrait, the young boy sits on a low high‑backed chair, his hands resting on an open book that sits in his lap. The card‑size format – about 3½ inches by 2¾ inches – means every detail must be captured with precision. Behind him is a plain backdrop, typical of Brighton studio work from the 1860s.
The image was taken on albumen paper, a fragile surface that needed a long exposure. To keep children still for those three minutes, Hennah & Kent used high‑backed chairs and sometimes a head clamp; a book or toy could occupy fidgety fingers. Here the book signals his education and future promise.
The sitter was born into a well‑to‑do family and later became a soldier and landowner. This early snapshot offers both charm and historical insight into Victorian portrait practice.
See it in person
Edward Duncombe Henry Buckley is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
