[Greyfriars' Churchyard, the Dennistoun Monument with D. O. Hill and His Nieces]

This image focuses on the Dennistoun Monument, the grave of Sir Robert Dennistoun located in Greyfriars Churchyard. David Octavius Hill (1802-70) served as both one of the photographers and a subject for this image. He is shown with his nieces, the Misses Watson. This photograph appeared on the title page of a series of large presentation albums the artist prepared with his collaborator Robert Adamson (1821-48). These albums, containing approximately one hundred photographs apiece, were given away to various friends and colleagues. There are believed to be at least ten still in existence. (See 84.XO.964.21 and 84.XO.734.4.4.47 for other views of Edinburgh and 84.XO.734.4.3.41 for another portrait of Hill.)

Adapted from Anne M. Lyden. Hill and Adamson, In Focus: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999), 36. ©1999, J. Paul Getty Museum.

For more information about the places Hill and Adamson photographed see ""Hill and Adamson: Place".