CONGRESS OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, 1894. Report of the Sub-Committee on the Photographic Survey of England and Wales. The Sub-Committee has considered the subject referred to it by the Congress, as to the best method of promoting a general Photographic Record of the Country on the lines adopted by the Society for the Photographic Survey of the County of Warwick. The Sub-Committee is of opinion that the establishment of such a general Photographic Record of all works of antiquity is of the highest importance, and that the Societies in Union should use their best efforts to establish, for their particular counties, associations on the basis of that so successfully initiated by the Warwickshire Society, and followed by the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. It may be expected that Societies organized on these lines, besides being of the greatest value to antiquaries, will be readily supported by the many interested in photography, who will be glad to feel that their efforts are incorporated and preserved for ever in what will eventually become a national collection. A more intelligent interest will be created in what is often at present a desultory and useless amusement, and the Archæological Societies will doubtless be strengthened by the addition of many intelligent members. The following Regulations are suggested for adoption : 1. That all photographs be as large as possible, whole plate being preferred, but in no case less than plate. 2. That they be printed in permanent process. 3. That while artistic effect is a valuable addition to a picture, it should not be achieved at the sacrifice of the work illustrated, but the point of view should be chosen to show as clearly as possible the details of the subject. This is especially important in the case of tombs, effigies, and various architectural details, where it will often be impossible to combine picturesque effect and valuable record. While, therefore, it will be necessary to keep up a certain standard of artistic skill, plates should be preferred which clearly show architectural or other facts that can only be adequately recorded by the deliberate sacrifice of picturesque effect. |