Horatio Ross

an album comprising 64 leaves with mounted albumen prints, including many views of the Ross Family, numerous Hunting and Sporting Studies, paintings by Sir Edwin Landseer, and charming Rustic and Scenic Views of Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, most captioned in ink on the mount, circa 1850s. Small folio, 1/4 black morocco, botanical patterned buckram with gilt-stamped title

The photographs in this remarkable family album range from generally fair to excellent condition. There are many strong prints, with deep dark tones and cream-toned highlights that retain all of their original detail. There are also many that exhibit significant-to-complete fading or discoloration. A detailed report for each plate is beyond the scope of this condition report; those wishing condition reports on individual specific plates are welcome to contact the Photographs Department. It is recommended that the album be examined in person. Most of the photographs are mounted individually to one side of an album leaf. In a few instances, two small photographs are mounted together on a single leaf. The leaves exhibit significant soiling, foxing, and age-darkening. The leaves and the photographs are rippled, likely a result of exposure to moisture and of the adhesive originally used. The album's exterior is worn at the corners and along the spine. A full list of captions is below: Richard Parrish Esq Mrs Hercules Ross Horatio Ross Horatio Senftenberg Ross Mrs Horatio Ross Hercules Grey Ross Colin George Ross (in Boating Dress) Edward Charles Russel Ross Robert Peel Ross Mamma & I Gledfield House Ross-Shire Gledfield Bridge (over River Carron) Colin, Game Keeper, and Dogs Papa going up to a point Papa shooting Papa, Myself, Ned, Shooting Pointing out the Result Papa come in from a day's fishing Chamois shooting No 1, Looking Ditto No. 2, What is Seen Ditto No. 3, The Result [Leaf] Papa, Deer Stalking (from Sir E Landseer's picture) The Drive. Sir Edwin Landseer Stag at Bay. Sir Edwin Landseer Netherley Avenue at Netherley Papa shooting at the Target Mr & Mrs Russel [ ] Papa on Clinker Mama, Ned, Myself, Dead Seal Edward Holyrood Pallace [sic] Bolton Abby [sic]. Sir Edwin Landseer Papa's House at Edinburgh Calton Hill, Edinburgh The Crucifixion Old Piper Hercules in Fishing Costume My cousin John Macrae Edward Feather Edinburgh An Avenue, Edinburgh An Old Beggar Sharpening Knives Mamma & I Edward with game Park before our House in Edinburgh Mrs Kennedy Baron Senftenberg Aunt Maggy Mrs Ross Holyrood Pallace [sic], North side Waterfall, From Nature Shooting Lodge. Glen Afric Loch Afric [untitled woman in bonnet, untitled man with cigar] [painting of an untitled woman], in triplicate [untitled man with cow] [untitled women with laundry outdoors] [untitled house exterior] [untitled view of church steeple and clotheslines] [untitled view of house with cart]
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Horatio Ross had five sons, each of whom appears in the present album: Horatio, Hercules, Colin, Edward, and Robert.  It is likely that the youngest, Robert, compiled this album.  Another family album is in the Gilman Paper Company Collection now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The photographs are laid into an album with ‘Lithographs by Horatio Ross’ in gilt lettering on the cover.  While the contents are decidedly not lithographs, Ross was in fact a proponent of the process, and notes recorded in the Journal of the Photographic Society of Scotland and of the Manchester Photographic Society describe in depth Ross's presentation on the subject in 1856.