Unique Photographs Shown For The First Time at Thirlestane Castle

Thirlestane Castle, Lauder is delighted to showcase a new photography exhibition featuring works by the 14th Earl of Lauderdale which have never been on public display before. The exhibition will be displayed in their brand new event space, the 'Vaulted Cellars' at Thirlestane Castle.

The exhibition will include some of the early bromoil printing techniques used by this prolific photographer, Frederick Colin Maitland, at the turn of the last century, as well as pre-Photoshop examples of edited images and how these were achieved. As well as never before seen images, there will also be a selection of his more vernacular work to give audiences a taster of the 14^th Earl’s broad range of photographic skills.

Entitled ‘Theoretical Sharpness’, the exhibition has been created by local photography artist Sam Cornwell. He was tasked with beginning the curation, study and preservation of the 14^th Earl’s extensive archive that dates from the late 19^th century. During his work he was fascinated by a series of images of clouds which the 14^th Earl used as a library for the editing of his work. The title of the exhibition comes from one of many columns Maitland wrote for a national newspaper in the 1920s. A phrase he coined that epitomises his work; he considered that photographs in total sharpness were not artistic at all, and this is reflected in his award winning work.

The exhibition will be open from 10am daily between Monday 5^th and Thursday 8^th August and is included in the normal admission ticket to the castle.

The exhibition is part of the Borders Art Map with two others taking place within the Borders at the start of August.

Pauline & Charlie’s Open Studio - 2nd -5th August

Allanbank Mill Steading - https://www.allanbankmillsteading.co.uk

Conversations in Wood - 3rd - 5th August

Marchmont House - https://marchmonthouse.com/

Edward Maitland-Carew said: “I am so thrilled to be able to share my great, great grandfather’s amazing work with a wider audience. The 14^th Earl of Lauderdale was extremely talented and very much at the forefront of the photography world winning many awards for his work. Sam Cornwell has done a fantastic job at examining these unique pieces and preparing them for display.”

For further information, please visit www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk, email enquiries@thirlestanecastle.co.uk or call 01578 722430.