The photograph titled “Glynn, an Actress and Reader” was created by Hill & Adamson around the year 1845. It depicts an individual, presumably actress Glynn, who is shown in profile, appearing to be in a moment of introspection or dramatic presentation. The subject is dressed in an elegant gown with a floral pattern, featuring an off-the-shoulder design that was characteristic of the period’s fashion. The dress flows elegantly and emphasizes her posture. The setting includes an ornately decorated chair to her right, which adds to the sense of refinement and may suggest a domestic or theatrical setting. However, the overall image is quite grainy and details are not sharply defined, which is typical for the early days of photography.
Given the era in which the photograph was taken, it likely utilized the calotype process, a pioneering photographic technique that allowed for paper negatives and was co-invented by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, the artists associated with this work. The pose and composition of the photograph suggest that it is a staged shot, intended to capture the essence of the actress’s persona and perhaps a moment from one of her performances or readings.
