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Seven Sisters and Doorway, St Machars Cathedral, Aberdeen, from an album compiled by Sir John Everett Millais
Seven Sisters and Doorway, St Machars Cathedral, Aberdeen, from an album compiled by Sir John Everett Millais

Seven Sisters and Doorway, St Machars Cathedral, Aberdeen, from an album compiled by Sir John Everett Millais

Artist (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1831 - 1904)
Associated (Southampton, England, 1829 - 1896)
Date1857
Mediumsalt print on paper
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
DimensionsOverall: Height: 23.7 cm, Width: 27.8 cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 1997 with assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions and the National Art Collections Fund.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG012255
About MeWhite, the son of a successful miller, had intended to pursue a medical career. Having completed a degree at Marischal College in Aberdeen, he moved to Edinburgh for his further study. There he became friends with fellow student, Thomas Keith (1827-1895), who was an early pioneer of photography. Keith introduced White to the technique of calotype.

Calotype is an early photographic process introduced in 1841 by William Henry Fox Talbot, using paper coated with silver iodide. White developed a keen sense for a good photograph. He became expert in composition and came to favour melancholic scenes of ancient, softly-weathered buildings such as St. Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen. This print depicts a view of the west front of St Machar's Cathedral and, in front of the towering 'Seven Sisters' window, a figure in the picture is a portrait of White.
More About Me
A wealthy Aberdeen flour miller, White abandoned photography early, becoming an avid collector of pictures and influential patron of contemporary Scottish art