X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Frédéric Flachéron’s Paper Negatives, 1848–1852

ABSTRACT

The Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography at Houghton Library, Harvard University contains 370 paper negatives, presenting an opportunity to study this nineteenth century technique in depth. In a pilot study on the composition and light stability of paper negatives by the French artist Frédéric Flachéron (1813–1883), nine paper negatives were analyzed with X-ray fluorescence analysis and three with microfade testing to ascertain if there was a correlation between the presence of halides and the light stability of the negatives. Technical analysis identified iodine and bromine in the negatives and indicated variability in Flachéron’s stabilization and fixing methods not previously documented.

RÉSUMÉ

La collection Harrison D. Horblit de photographies anciennes de la bibliothèque Houghton de l'Université Harvard contient 370 négatifs sur papier, offrant une opportunité d'étudier cette technique du 19e siècle en profondeur. Dans une étude-pilote sur la composition et sur la stabilité à la lumière des négatifs sur papier par l'artiste français Frédéric Flachéron (1813-1883), neuf négatifs sur papier furent analysés par fluorescence à rayons X et trois tests de microviellisement à la lumière pour déterminer s'il y avait une corrélation entre la présence d'halogénures et la stabilité à la lumière des négatifs. L'analyse technique a identifié la présence d'iode et de brome dans les négatifs et souligné une variabilité dans les techniques de stabilisation et de fixage de Flachéron qui n'avaient pas été documentés précédemment. Traduit par Monique Benoît.

RESUMO

A Coleção Harrison D. Horblit de Fotografia Antiga da Biblioteca Houghton, Universidade de Harvard, contém 370 negativos de papel, fornecendo uma oportunidade de estudo em profundidade desta técnica do séc. XIX. Em um estudo piloto realizado pelo artista francês Frédéric Flachéron (1813-1883) sobre a composição e estabilidade à luz de negativos de papel, nove negativos de papel foram avaliados ⁣⁣com análise de fluorescência de raios-X e três com teste de micro esmaecimento para verificar se havia uma correlação entre o presença de halogenetos e estabilidade à luz dos negativos. A análise técnica identificou iodo e bromo nos negativos e indicou variabilidade nos métodos de estabilização e fixação de Flachéron não documentados anteriormente. Traduzido por Beatriz Haspo.

RESUMEN

La colección Harrison D. Horblit de Fotografía Temprana, albergada en la biblioteca Houghton de la Universidad de Harvard, contiene 370 negativos de papel, lo que representa una oportunidad para estudiar a profundidad esta técnica del siglo XIX. En un estudio piloto sobre la composición y la estabilidad a la luz de negativos de papel del artista francés Frédéric Flachéron (1813-1883), nueve negativos de papel se analizaron con fluorescencia de rayos X, y tres con pruebas de micro-desvanecimiento o micro-envejecimiento a la luz, para determinar si existe una correlación entre la presencia de haluros y estabilidad a la luz de los negativos. El análisis técnico identificó yodo y bromo en los negativos e indicó una variabilidad en los métodos de estabilización y fijado de Flachéron no documentados previamente. Traducción: Amparo Rueda; revisión: Diana Díaz.

KEYWORDS:

• X-ray fluorescence
• microfade testing
• Frédéric Flachéron
• paper negatives
• calotype
• nineteenth century photography
• French photographers
• Horblit Collection of Early Photography

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Céline Daher for sharing her preliminary data on Flachéron’s negatives, which encouraged us to undertake the research described in this paper. Special thanks go to Erin Murphy for her guidance throughout all stages of this research, Hope Mayo and Carie McGinnis of Houghton Library for facilitating study of the Horblit collection, and the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies for the generous use of their analytical facilities, particularly Georgina Raynor for her assistance with MFT.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Laura Panadero is the Claire W. and Richard P. Morse Fellow in the Virginia Herrick Deknatel Paper Conservation Laboratory at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. She received her MS in the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and her MA in the History of Art from The Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University in 2017 with a specialization in the conservation of photographic materials. She was the Craigen W. Bowen Fellow at the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museums from 2017 to 2019, and an intern in photograph conservation at The Weissman Preservation Center, Harvard Library from 2016 to 2017. Address: Deknatel Paper Conservation Laboratory, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Email: [email protected]

Katherine Eremin is the Patricia Cornwell Conservation Scientist at the Harvard Art Museums. She received her PhD in 1994 from the University of Cambridge and worked as a research scientist at the National Museums of Scotland from 1994 to 2004. Address: Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Email: [email protected]

Elena Bulat is the Paul M. and Harriet L. Weissman Senior Photograph Conservator for Special Collections at the Weissman Preservation Center, Harvard Library. Elena came to Harvard in 2007 from the George Eastman House where she was a paper and photograph conservator. From 2001 to 2003 Elena was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation at George Eastman Museum, International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester and the Image Permanence Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Address: 90 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Email: [email protected]