Francis Bedford Research Collection

Expertly assembled over more than two decades by Toronto-based architectural photographer and collector Steven Evans, this unique and comprehensive research collection encompasses the life’s work of Francis Bedford (1815-1894), one of the pre-eminent English architecture and landscape photographers of the 19th century. Including major bodies of work along with original research material, this collection comprises 1269 individual photographs in a variety of formats, six albums and 28 publications with original tipped-in photographs, and related ephemera. The collection also includes 16 lithographic publications, reflecting Bedford’s initial training as an architectural draughtsman and reproduction lithographer. Ranging from the mid-1840s to 1870, the Francis Bedford Research Collection features views from the photographer’s extensive travels throughout the United Kingdom and the Middle East, where he famously served as official photographer for the Prince of Wales’ tour in 1862. Scarce early photographs, variant prints from the same negatives, examples of numerous stereographic formats, view albums and rare sales catalogues offer an unparalleled resource for scholarly study of Bedford’s working methods, the dissemination of his work through various commercial channels, and historical context.

The Francis Bedford Research Collection was purchased with generous support from The Schulich Foundation, Toronto, Canada.

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Black and white photograph depicting the interior of a church. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 1
Francis Bedford, *Wells Cathedral, South Aisle of Nave*, 1860 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, THe Image Centre

Black and white photograph depicting the exterior of a cathedral. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 2
Francis Bedford, *Wells Cathedral, The West Front*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Black and white photograph depicting a church's interior courtyard. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 3
Francis Bedford, *Tintern Abbey, Interior Looking West, #1*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Black and white photograph showing a man walking up a steep wooden bridge. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 4
Francis Bedford, *Miners Bridge*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A group of people gathered around a small shelter and mounds of rocks. Black and white photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 5
Francis Bedford, *Snowdon, View On The Summit*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A waterfall. Black and white photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 6
Francis Bedford, *Bettws-y-Coed, the Swallow Falls, from above*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Two men shown on a long bridge. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 7
Francis Bedford, *Hereford. Preaching Cross of the Black Friars*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A peaceful scene showing an old mill building. Black and white photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 8
Francis Bedford, *Chagford Mill*, (negative) 1859–1867, photogravure, 1984. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

In the foreground, two sailboats near the shore, with a suspension bridge shown at the left leading to a castle. — Fig. 9
Francis Bedford, *Conway Castle and Suspension Bridge, from the Landing Place*, 1864 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

The extravagant interior room of a castle. — Fig. 10
Francis Bedford, *Warwick Castle, The Cedar Drawing Room, Looking East*, 1864 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A stone bust shown against a black backdrop. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 11
Francis Bedford, *Head of Perseus, No. 75*, 1864, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

An ornate building in Istanbul, shown in black and white. Francis Bedford — Fig. 12
Francis Bedford, *Constantinople, Fountain of the Seraglio*, 1862, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Gizeh, the Sphinx, the Great Pyramid and two of the Smaller Pyramids. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 13
Francis Bedford, *Gizeh, the Sphinx, the Great Pyramid and two of the Smaller Pyramids*, 1866, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A group of men on camel pose in front of two pyramids in the background. — Fig. 14
Francis Bedford, *Gizeh – The Departure of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and Suite from the Pyramids*, 1866, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 15
Francis Bedford, *Cairo – View from the Mosk [sic] of Mohammed Ali showing the Mosk of Sultan Hassan*, 1866, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Groups of people gathered on a long stretch of rocky beach. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 16
Francis Bedford, *Pensarn Beach*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A grid showing twelve different images taken in Chester, England. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 17
Francis Bedford, *Twelve Views at Chester*, 1862 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A stereograph of a group dressed in traditional Welsh clothes. — Fig. 18
Francis Bedford, *Welsh Group, The Market Stall*, 1860–1861, albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Stereoview photographs showing a quarry. Photograph by Francis Bedford. — Fig. 19
Francis Bedford, *Ffestiniog. Slate Quarries, Lower Workings*, 1864 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Stereoview photographs by Francis Bedford showing the interior of a church. — Fig. 20
Francis Bedford, *Wells Cathedral -- The Staircase to Chapter House*, 1864 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Panoramic photographic by Francis Bedford showing a suspension bridge connecting two sides of a river. — Fig. 21
Francis Bedford, *Clifton and Suspension Bridge, From Cumberland Basin*, 1859 (or later), albumen print. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

An album spread with two images. On the left an image with a sailboat, and on the right, a man standing on a bridge. — Fig. 22
Francis Bedford, [Untitled travel album], c. 1870, 30 pages with 30 albumen silver print carte de visites inserted into pages. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 23
Francis Bedford, *Photographic Pictures made by Mr Francis Bedford During the Tour in the East in which By Command he accompanied His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales*, 1862, portfolio cover. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A lithographic image made by Francis Bedford showing a series of church buildings. — Fig. 24
Francis Bedford, *A Chart of Anglican Church Architecture Arranged Chronologically with Examples*, 1844, lithographic chart/map. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

An ornate lithograph made by Francis Bedford with writing in latin. — Fig. 25
Francis Bedford, *Miniature Letter (Resurrection) illuminated Border and Music of the 14th Century*, 1846, lithograph. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

Lithograph by Francis Bedford depicting a decorative fountain made of crystal with foliage behind. — Fig. 26
Francis Bedford, *The Crystal Fountain*, 1853, lithograph. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

A lithograph made by Francis Bedford depicting an ornate gold mirror. — Fig. 27
Francis Bedford, *Small Mirror Frame in Carved and Gilded Wood*, 1858, lithograph. The Francis Bedford Research Collection, The Image Centre

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