Talbot's Tower, Falaise Castle

Art Historical Context

Step into the storied world of 19th-century photography with *Talbot's Tower, Fise Castle* (1856), an albumen silver print by British photographer Alfred Capel Cure Capturing the imposing stone tower of Falaise Castle in Normandy, France—a medieval fortress linked to William the Conqueror's birthplace—this image showcases Cure's passion for architectural subjects. At 21.3 x 27.8 cm, the print invites viewers to explore the castle's rugged textures and dramatic silhouette against the sky, evoking the romance of Gothic ruins during the Victorian era's fascination with history. Printed from a paper negative, this work employs the calotype process pioneered by William Henry Fox Talbot—whose name graces the tower in tribute. Albumen silver prints, coated with egg whites for sharp detail and rich tones, marked a leap in photography's ability to rival painting in precision. Cure, an early adopter, traveled Europe documenting such sites, blending technical innovation with artistic vision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Photographs Department (gift of Paul F. Walter, 1987), this piece highlights photography's role in preserving heritage. It bridges 11th-century conquests with 19th-century ingenuity, reminding us how light and chemistry immortalize the past.

About the Artist

Alfred Capel Cure · 1826–1896

Alfred Capel Cure (1826–1896) was a British artist whose career unfolded during the Victorian era, a period of remarkable diversity and ambition in British art. Active in a landscape tradition shaped by the achievements of John Constable and J.M.W. Turner, Cure worked at a time when watercolor and drawing held an especially prominent place in English artistic culture, embraced both by professional...