Celestial Archives

This artwork was inspired by Caroline Herschel, a luminary in the field of astronomy, stands as a towering figure in the history of science.

Born in 1750 in Hanover, Germany, she broke through the barriers of her time to become one of the first recognised female astronomers. Working alongside her brother, William Herschel, she ventured into the realm of the stars, turning her meticulous observations into groundbreaking discoveries.

Caroline's legacy includes the discovery of several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, and her seminal contributions to the cataloguing of star clusters and nebulae. Her work was instrumental in expanding the New General Catalogue of nebulae, which remains a cornerstone in astronomical study.

In 1828, Caroline Herschel was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, a historic accolade as she was the first woman to receive such an honour. Beyond her scientific achievements, Herschel's story is one of perseverance and passion, inspiring generations of women to look towards the stars. Her dedication to astronomy, combined with her early love for music, paints the picture of a multifaceted individual who pursued knowledge and beauty in all its forms.

Caroline Herschel's journey from a singer to a star hunter epitomises the limitless potential of the human spirit to transcend expectations and redefine what is possible.

Technique

Celestial Archives was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, a photogram of a wasp nest created in the darkroom by placing the structure inside the photographic enlarger and printing images through it onto silver gelatin paper, combined with hand-painted chemigrams creating planetary structures, glass plate negatives of the stars, comets and hand illustrated educational diagrams.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large scale negative is then contact printed onto the paper by exposing to daylight (UV rays).

The print is then processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry, developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours before hand finishing with 24-carat gold leaf and hand stitched glass beads.

In the frame

This artwork is sold framed.
1397mm x 572mm x 38.1mm (depth)

Unframed

Trio of 300mm diameter artworks

Framed artwork arrives ready to hang. A London-based expert team crafts each frame using primed and sanded wood with a soft-sheen finish. All frames feature 2mm anti-reflective, UV-protected glazing. For custom framing, get in touch.

Mount

All framed cyanotypes are float mounted. The artwork floats above a snow-white mount board, showcasing the paper texture and deckled edging.

Paper

Handmade recycled cotton rag paper: 320gsm / 100% Cotton Rag / Recycled / Acid Free / PH Neutral / Medium Rough