The Tapestry of Scotland - Photography

Today in Aberdeen we visited the Tapestry of Scotland, a tapestry of 160 panels made by people in small groups across the entire nation. It is brilliant and beautiful. The colours are rich and the work is detailed. Each panel is accompanied by a card explaining the moment in history the panel captures.

This is panel 94. It is called Hill and Adamson. In 1843 the painter, David Octavius Hill, forged a partnership with the engineer, Robert Adamson, to establish Scotland's first photographic studio. Hill was present at the Disruption Assembly that same year when the Church of Scotland split in two and used photography to capture likenesses of the several hundred ministers present, eventually completing a painting of the event in 1866.

Hill and Adamson were a perfect match; the former provided skill in composition and lighting, the latter dexterity in handling the camera. Adamson's studio on Calton Hill, Rock House, became home to their pioneering experiments in photography. Using the calotype process they captured Scottish luminaries and even fishwives at Newhaven.

The partnership produced around 3,000 prints, but was cut short after just 4 years when Adamson died on 1848. On first seeing Hill and Adamson's work, the water colourist, John Harden, compared them to Rembrandt and other portrait masters. It seemed the most appropriate panel to blip, but I could have blipped any other. They are a stunning work of art.

The tapestry is in Aberdeen Art Gallery until 19 April and will be exhibited in the Scottish Parliament during its summer recess from June to September. It is well worth visiting more than once. Photographs can be taken provided no flash is used.