[Professor Spence]

This rather somber-looking gentleman, referred to by his students as "Dismal Jimmy," is James Spence (1812-82), professor of surgery at Edinburgh University. He sat for Hill and Adamson (David Octavius Hill [1802-70] and Robert Adamson [1821-48]) on various occasions in June and July of 1844. The dark mood of this photograph is heightened by the presence of the human skull; its wide, toothy grin is ironically juxtaposed with Spence's dour expression.

In the spring of 1844 Hill moved into Adamson’s home, Rock House, situated high above Edinburgh with a panoramic view of the city. Their photographic studio was set up in the backyard, where there was strong natural light, an essential element in the calotype process. Various props were employed in this exterior studio to facilitate the look of an interior environment and, on occasion, to provide a subtle indication of the sitter's occupation. In this image the large drape in the background and the table suggest a room within the house, while the skull relates to Spence's knowledge of human anatomy.

Adapted from Anne M. Lyden. Hill and Adamson, In Focus: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999), 28. ©1999, J. Paul Getty Museum.