Tag Archive for '1874'

Photographing the 1874 Transit of Venus

Published on June 6, 2012 by Geoff Barker in Object of the week, objects, Photography, science, Scientific Instruments and The TAM team. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
P3548-780.jpg

Composite portrait, frontispiece for publication 'Transit of Venus 1874', 1892, Powerhouse Museum,P3548-780

The Transit of Venus on 6 June 2012 is the latest occurrence of an event that has shaped the scientific history of Australia. Captain Cook’s expedition to observe the 1769 transit in Tahiti led to the European settlement of Australia. The 1874 transit may not have been quite as auspicious but it did lead to some major advances in the use of photography for astronomical observations.

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Edoardo Majeroni – Italian 'red shirt' and Australian actor

Published on April 2, 2012 by Geoff Barker in Object of the week. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

H8504-8 Edoardo Majoroni, collodion / glass, part of a collection housed in wooden chest, Freeman Bothers 1876

This is a portrait of Signor Edoardo Majeroni who, with his wife, presented stage performances in theatres across Australia in 1876 and the 1880s. In this image he is dressed in a Russian military costume for his acclaimed role in a one-act play entitled ‘The Old Corporal’ The play was performed in Sydney in 1876 and the photograph appears to have been taken by the Freeman Brothers Studio while the performances were fresh in the minds of Sydney-siders.

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