[Sir David Brewster]

Two important factors led to the introduction of William Henry Fox Talbot’s paper negative process, known as the calotype, into Scotland: the friendship between Talbot (1800-77) and Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), and the establishing in 1840 of the penny postage system in the British Isles, which provided a fairly inexpensive and reliable way to send mail. Talbot not only posted examples of his photographic work to Brewster, he also supplied details of the chemical processes involved. Brewster's sharing of this information with his colleagues at St. Andrews University, namely Dr. John Adamson (1810-70) and Maj. Hugh Lyon Playfair (1786-1861), led to Adamson's success at creating the first calotype in Scotland.

The small circle of amateur enthusiasts grew with the addition in 1842 of Adamson’s brother, Robert Adamson (1821-48). He appeared to excel in the new art. On May 9, 1843, Brewster informed Talbot that Adamson "goes tomorrow to Edinr. to prosecute, as a Profession, the calotype.” He has made brilliant progress and done some of the very finest things both in Portrait and Landscape."

Brewster was also responsible for the partnership between David Octavius Hill (1802-70) and Robert Adamson. After learning of Hill's decision to commemorate the formation of the Free Church of Scotland with a large painting, Brewster introduced them, seeing the opportunity for photography to assist in the process of making preliminary studies. In a July 3, 1843, letter to Talbot, Brewster explained: "I got hold of the artist—showed him the Calotype, & the eminent advantage he might derive from it in getting likenesses of all the principal characters before they were dispersed to their respective homes. He was at first incredulous, but went to Mr. Adamson, and arranged with him preliminaries for getting all the necessary portraits."

Brewster himself was a member of the newly formed Free Church of Scotland. Using this calotype as a model, Hill included Brewster's portrait in the Disruption Picture (he is the fifth person to the left of the central pulpit).

Adapted from Anne M. Lyden. Hill and Adamson, In Focus: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1999), 12. ©1999, J. Paul Getty Museum.