Eakins and direct enlarged platinum
richard Sullivan (richsul@roadrunner.com)
Thu, 21 Mar 1996 21:39:28 -0700
I got a call today from a women who works at the Metropolitian Museum of Art
in the Paper Conservation Department. She was inquiring about purchasing a
platinum kit so I casually asked if it was for personal or business use. We
chatted for a while. Seems that they are convinced that Thomas Eakins, of
which they have quite a number of large format platinums, made direct 11 x
14 enlargements from 4 x 5 plates. Seems he had a solar enlarger and a
heliostat (a device to follow the sum) and was something of an amature
engineer. There is also evidence that Willis was a friend and was involved
in his printing ventures.
Anyone have any knowledge of anyone enlarging platinum directly? Just
thought I'd pass along this curious tidbit.
Dick Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan