IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARTISTIC TREatment of PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caesar Ferranti and Edward James Turner,
both of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
« IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARTISTIC TREatment of PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
"
Sealed the 1st April 1873, and dated the 17th October 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caesar Ferranti and
Edward James Turner at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 17th October 1872.
We, CAESAR FERRANTI and EDWARD JAMES TURNER, both of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARTISTIC TREATMENT OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the artistic treatment of photo-
graphic portraits relates,-
Firstly. To the preparation of the photograph to receive easily a

page_text: graphed a certain and specially dull or dead appearance, uniform in
parts, although capable of a variety of effects by treatment or manipula-
tion by the artist.
Secondly. In the treatment of the subject represented so as to obtain
a great amount of contrast, and thus throwing the subject in relief
from the specially dull or dead background.
Thirdly. In the finishing of the subject in such a manner as to
produce on any common photograph a miniature-like effect of finish.
The before-going results to which this Invention relates are obtained
in the first place by washing the albumenized paper bearing the
photograph to be treated with a mixture of prepared ox gall and water.
Secondly, by treating the background of the picture with "pastil"
whether pulverized or otherwise. The albumenized paper prepared as
before mentioned with ox gall and water takes the "pastil" casily
without in any way injuring the picture, also the picture can in no case
be damaged by the artist if he fails to obtain the effect at first, which
effect consists in rendering the background dull and dead, similar to what
is known as "stipling" in minature portraiture. The process at present
employed to arrive at this effect consists in raising the albumenized
surface of the paper by means of friction by pummice powder, or
otherwise, thus preparing the surfaco for the artist, but if the artist
fails to effect his views, the picture in this case is spoiled; whereas
by the use of "pastil" as before mentioned the artist can if his ideas
are not properly represented clean the picture of the "pastil" and
commence again. Thirdly, by the use of albumen obtained by a
preference from crate eggs and applied to the picturo a brilliant effect
is arrived at, as the figure thus treated forms a vivid contrast with the
background and stands in relief therefrom, thereby giving to the
figure and face a minature-like effect of the greatest softness and
brilliancy.
Photographic portraits prepared according to the before going

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Caesar Ferranti and Edward James Turner in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CAESAR
FERRANTI and EDWARD JAMES TURNER, both of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in tho
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Caesar Ferranti and Edward James
Turner, Her special licence that we, the said Caesar Ferranti and
Edward James Turner, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Caesar Ferranti and Edward James Turner,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Irclaud, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARTISTIC TREATMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Caesar Ferranti
and Edward James Turner, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Caesar Ferranti and Edward
James Turner, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This Invention of improvements in the artistic treatment of photo-
graphic portraits relates,―

page_text: a certain and specially dull or dead appearance uniform in parts,
although capable of a variety of effects by treatment or manipulation
by the artist.
Secondly. In the treatment of the subject represented so as to obtain
a great amount of contrast, and thus throwing the subject in relief from
the specially dull or dead background.
Thirdly. In the finishing of the subject in such a manner as to
produce on any common photograph a miniature-like effect of finish.
The before-going results to which this Invention relates, are obtained
in the first placo by washing the albumenized paper bearing the photo-
graph to be treated with a mixture of prepared ox gall and water.
Secondly, by treating the background of the picture with "pastil"
whether pulverized or otherwise. The albumenized paper prepared as
before-mentioned with ox gall and water takes the pastil casily
without in any way injuring the picture, also the picture can in no
case be damaged by the artist if he fails to obtain the effect at first,
which effect consists in rendering the backgroud dull and dead, similar
to what is known as stipling" in miniature portrature.
The process
"
"
at present employed to arrive at this effect consists in raising the
albumenized surface of the paper by means of friction by pummice
powder, or otherwise, thus preparing the surface for the artist, but if
the artist fails to effect his views the picture in this case is spoiled,
whereas by the use of "pastil as before-mentioned, the artist can
if his ideas are not properly represented clean the picture of the
"pastil" and commence again. Thirdly, by the use of albumen
obtained by preference from crate eggs and applied to the picture a
brilliant effect is arrived at, as the figure thus treated forms a vivid
contrast with the background and stands in relief therefrom, thereby
giving to the figure and face a miniature-like effect of the greatest
softness and brilliancy.
Photographic portraits prepared according to the before-going In-
vention are suitable for any amount or style of manipulation that may
suit the artist or artistically the picture.
The before-going being the nature and object of our Invention, we
will now proceed to describe more explicitly how the same may be
carried into practical effect and more clearly define the object of our
Invention for a new method of treating artistically photographic

page_text: portraits on albumenized, glutinized, and gelatinized, or any other
glossy surface papers, by the application of "pastil" powder or crayons,
to be used in various tints or mixtures of same to suit such effects as
may be deemed desirable to be obtained to harmonize the tone of the
background with the rest of the photograph, as herein-after described
and in relation to drapery and otherwise.
The first portion to be considered is the background, which has to
present simply a dull effect capable of subsequent artistic modifications;
secondly, the figure and drapery which will receive considerable force
and relief from glazings, transparent or semi-transparent; thirdly, the
face and flesh, which according to the quality of the photograph will
require more or less labour. These results are easily and rapidly
obtained at considerably less expenditure of time, trouble, or skill, than
by any method previously introduced, and they have nothing in common
with the old method of applying uniform opaque layers of pastil
powder or crayons to photographic portraits on salted paper, and bear
no resemblance to any of the stipled effects obtained with or without
the aid of abraiding substances. While pictures produced by this
Invention are widely different from anything hitherto introduced they
present a most charming effect, and an ordinary photograph is trans-
formed into a perfectly harmonious picture, acceptable to the most
cultivated eye, and satisfactory alike to the painter and the art photo-
grapher, presenting as it does all the appearance of a work of art
obtained by labour of the most skilful or prolonged character.
It has been recited elsewhere, and is a fact known in relation to
photographs on albumenized, gelatinized, or glossy surface paper, that
dry colours or crayons or tints have never before been fixed or even
applied to the before-mentioned surfaces, and that is precisely what our
Invention practises and carries out, moreover with a wide range of
effects absolutely at the artist's command and thoroughly harmonizing.
In all photographic portraits the background and figure may be said
to cover at least seven-eighths of the surface to be treated, and upon
the treatment of these two portions of the portrait depends the effect
of the face, which is the main object of attraction. Thus by giving a
dull retiring although aerial effect to the background and greater
brilliancy to the figure and drapery, a remarkably bold effect is obtained
which if the photograph be a good one leaves little to be done to the .
face, and it is at once evident that the advantages arising from such a

page_text: It produces, and
entirely preserves.
LITO
Conracter Of The photograpme portrait which
TU
The following may be taken as an example of this Invention as
applied to a photographic portrait on albumenized, gelatinized, or any
other glossy surface paper. Take a photographic portrait mounted on
cardboard in the usual way. (In order to obtain the best results it is
desirable that the print should have a plain uniform background rather
dark than otherwise.) When it has been gently rolled, the first operation
is the preparation of its whole surface by washing it over with a
mixture of ox gall and water, using a brush or a small piece of soft
Turkey spongo until no greasy streak is apparent and the liquid flows
uniformally over the whole surface of the photograph. After allowing
the so prepared print to dry for a few minutes and before it has dried
again to a hardened surface proceed to produce the uniformally dull
surface required for the background. This will be easily obtained by
the use of pulverized pastil or crayons (the soft French are the most
suitable for this purpose). After having secured an appropriate mixture
of said pastil or crayon and mixed the required tint to suit the
subject being treated, the said powder should be rubbed all over the
background with the fingers, which should be kept always sufficiently
impregnated with the pigment to arrive at a uniformally dull effect
without opacity. Whilst the fingers are performing the before-
mentioned operation a gentle steady circular movement should be
imparted to them, and it will be found that very little practise will
accomplish the desired effect. Should it now be deemed advisable to
vary the appearance of the background to introduce deeper shadows at
the side of it, it will be found that a second rubbing over the portions
of the background to be intensified in tone can be proceeded with
precisely in the same manner that the first operation was conducted,
provided always that a darker mixture of pulverized pastil or crayon
be used to this effect. Now any powder which may cover the face or
figure should be carefully removed with a wet brush, and the deep.
shadows of the face and afterwards the whole of the drapery should be
glazed over with a mixture of clarified albumen, by preference from
crato eggs, with gum water, or any other substance or liquid, which
when dry leaves a glossy appearance on the surface it covers. It will
be seen at once that a vigorous contrast has now been produced, the only

page_text: part left for consideration is the fleshy portion of the face which has
not been glazed. This portion may be treated according to the artist's
fancy by "stipling" or simply removing any imperfection which he
may consider objectionable to the ultimate result he wishes to obtain.
In cases where careful "stipling" of the negative has been resorted to
before producing the print very little work will be required, in no case
extending over more than five or ten minutes to satisfy the most
fastidious tastes, but it must also be observed that this last portion,
although of secondary importance as to general effect of what has
now become a picture, harmonious in all its bearings, is left entirely to
the fancy and skill of the artist.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and
purposes of our Invention, and fully described the manner in which the
same is to be performed and put into practical effect, what we claim as
the Invention secured to us by Letters Patent as aforesaid is, treating
artistically photographic portraits by the application of dry colours,
pastil, or crayons, whatever be the name by which such pigments may
be described, to albumenized, gelatinized, or any other glossy surface
paper with or without the assistance of ox gall and water, and in con-
junction with glazed figures and drapery, and forming the novel and
special effect, substantially in the manner and for the purposes as herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Caesar Ferranti and Edward
James Taylor, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
30
CAESAR
(L.S.) FERRANTI.
EDWARD JAMES (L.S.)
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH,
of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool.
TURNER.