Page 27 - cn - ah national trust society and nature 25-03-24

Laycock Abbey, Wiltshire.

During William Henry Fox Talbot’s life time he used the Blue Parlour as his library.
The painting depicts the installation within the Blue Parlour, curated by the National Trust in 2017, to
commemorate the work of Fox Talbot and his scientific discoveries in photography and his general interest in
science especially in the field of light and the charting of the ferment.
He was a prominent mathematician and astronomer and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Although the earliest photograph was taken by Joseph Niepce in1826, Fox Talbot was responsible for inventing the
negative -positive process which paved the way for the development of modern photography.

The light source within the room setting conveys the sense of sunlight with its resultant casting of lighted surfaces
and deep shade over the assembly of a Map of the World, Books, Model of the Universe, Apparatus, Telescope and
specimen Bird egg, thereby acting as a common inter-grating component of the composition. The directional and
single light source, reinforces the idea of the effect of light and perspective of the room.
Through Fox Tabot, Lacock had become a place for the exploration of science in order, to gain answers and hence
knowledge, this was a contrast to the fact that Lacock was at one time an established nunnery for Augustinian
canonesses founded on faith. The nunnery was built by Ela the Countess of Salisbury in memory of her husband
William Longespee. on her property in 1229 and was dedicated on the 16 th April 1232, building work continuing
until 1247.

The painting makes a connection between Man’s search for concrete answers to the mystery held within creation,
contrasting with assumptions held by Ideologies and Faiths, Philosophy
attempts to bridge these poles in understanding.

The pursuit of Knowledge.

Interior scene commemorating Fox Talbot.
The Blue Parlour, Lacock Abbey
Oil on canvas 48 x 60 inches