Julia Margaret Cameron - From Freshwater to Ceylon

Julia Margaret Cameron - From Freshwater to Ceylon

Royal Photographic Society

Artform: Photography
Event date: Thu, 4th Jun 2026 to Sun, 7th Jun 2026
South East

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 "> published -

Event Summary

An event at Dimbola, Julia Margaret Cameron's home on the Isle of Wight with speakers discussing her life, photography and networks, plus visits to places of interest

Event Description

Elected to membership of the Photographic Society of London (later the Royal Photographic Society) in 1864, Julia Margaret Cameron's photographs regained popularity during the mid-20th century notably through research by Helmut and Alison Gernsheim. In their influential The History of Photography (1955), the Gernsheims recalled a review of Cameron's work from The Illustrated London News of May 1865 as 'the most bold and successful application of the principles of fine art to photography'. Interest was renewed in 1975 when Colin Ford, then Keeper of Film and Photography at the National Portrait Gallery, was instrumental in preventing the export of an important album that Cameron had personally compiled for her friend Sir John Herschel. This convening at Dimbola, Cameron's former home on the Isle of Wight, offers visits and talks reflecting on the poetry, theatricals, bohemian lifestyle, Christianity and myriad connections through Anglo-Indian society that inspired her photographs. Images have been selected from the several collections of Cameron's work and in particular from the extensive RPS Collection at the V&A, together with others given to the V&A by Cameron herself or purchased from her. Two recent developments have influenced the content of this event, Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters currently showing at Watts Galley (closing 4 May 2026) with an accompanying publication and also new research by Aneela de Soysa into Julia Margaret Cameron's final years of photography in Sri Lanka. There is a fee of £40 for attendance.

Event Overview

  • Event Title: Julia Margaret Cameron - From Freshwater to Ceylon
  • Type: Conference
  • Date: Thu, 4th Jun 2026 to Sun, 7th Jun 2026
  • Location:
    South East
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Event: Julia Margaret Cameron - From Freshwater to Ceylon

Event: Julia Margaret Cameron - From Freshwater to Ceylon

Organisation: Royal Photographic Society

Postcode: PO40 9QE

Useful Links

How to Book

Details of the programme and booking here: https://tinyurl.com/Dimbola