Mrs Archer (active 1857)
The butcher of Cawnpore 1857
Salted paper print | 19.5 x 12.3 cm (image) | RCIN 2942110.d
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Photograph of a half length portrait of a male man, named 'the butcher of Cawnpore'. The man poses with his arms crossed, facing towards the camera. He is bare chested and wears a turban, ear ornaments and trousers or a sarong.
On the mount displaying the photographs is a statement reading: 'Extract of a Letter/ from Dr Halleur to Mr Negretti,/ dated Calcutta , Novr 9, 1857./ "I sent you 50 copies of a portrait/ of the butcher of Cawnpore, who/ murdered all the women & children,/ by order of that devil Nena [sic] Sahib;/ it was taken by a Mrs Archer, a/ great sufferer, who gave them to me/ to sell them for her as a means/ of subsistence; sell them as high/ as you can, as it is a charitable / act; she has been in my house/ for the last three months, and is/ indeed a pitiable woman. I will/ write more next mail about it,/ but do not make use of my name in reference to this picture, as I do/ not like to be brought before the/ public"'Provenance
Presented to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
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Creator(s)
(photographer)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Salted paper print
Measurements
19.5 x 12.3 cm (image)