X-ray photograph of hidden objects
Date
1896
Creator - Organisation
Swan Electric Engraving Company, Printmaker
After
Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton (1863 - 1930, British) , Electrical engineer
Object type
Material
Dimensions
height (print): 148mm
width (print): 114mm
width (print): 114mm
Subject
Description
X-ray image of metal objects through calico pocket and sheet of aluminium, including a folding corkscrew, key and a coin.
Dated ‘1896’ and stamped ‘Swan Electric Engraving Co.’ with ‘copyright’ inscribed in ink below. (verso)
Part of a set of six, these are prints from the first X-ray images produced in England, Swinton repeated the experiments of Wilhelm Röntgen to create these ‘shadowgrams’ and they were published in a special issue of The photogram ltd: ‘The new light’ (Dawbarn & Ward, London, 1896). A similar set of prints which sold through Bonhams are dated '18 January 1896' and it is likely that these were produced at the same time (Auction 19386: Papers & Portraits: The Roy Davids collection, part II, 29 March 2011, lot 359A).
Swan Electric Printing Company (active 1890s) was founded by Sir Joseph Swan FRS (1828-1914).
Dated ‘1896’ and stamped ‘Swan Electric Engraving Co.’ with ‘copyright’ inscribed in ink below. (verso)
Part of a set of six, these are prints from the first X-ray images produced in England, Swinton repeated the experiments of Wilhelm Röntgen to create these ‘shadowgrams’ and they were published in a special issue of The photogram ltd: ‘The new light’ (Dawbarn & Ward, London, 1896). A similar set of prints which sold through Bonhams are dated '18 January 1896' and it is likely that these were produced at the same time (Auction 19386: Papers & Portraits: The Roy Davids collection, part II, 29 March 2011, lot 359A).
Swan Electric Printing Company (active 1890s) was founded by Sir Joseph Swan FRS (1828-1914).
Object history
Wilhelm Röntgen (1845-1923), German physicist, revolutionised medical diagnosis through his discovery of the X-ray, which won him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.