Glittering Photographic Collection at Reading

Wednesday, 30 November 2005 10:41

LONDON, ENGLAND.-The Art Fund has given a grant to the Museum of Reading towards the purchase of a unique photographic collection by Marcus Adams (1875-1959) and his son Gilbert Adams (1906-1996). The collection of thirty photographs includes images of the young Princess Elizabeth, actress Gloria Swanson and 60’s icon Marianne Faithfull. Three generations of Adams family photographs have been connected to Reading and the surrounding area since 1881 - Marcus Adams trained in his father’s Reading studio and his son, Gilbert, assisted his father before becoming established in his own right. The collection of thirty photographs include striking images of ordinary people such as soldiers relaxing in barracks and Reading children playing in a churchyard as well as charming childhood photographs of the Royal Family and well-known public figures. Marcus Adams was unrivalled as a photographer of children and is well-known for his portraits of the Royal Family and this collection contains several charming portraits of the young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret capturing the closeness and happiness of the family. These photographs were reproduced all over the world - popular because they were so different from the stiff poses captured by previous photographers. His photographs include timeless images of theatrical life, beautifully composed war effort photographs and some post-war portraits of well-known public figures, including the sculptor Henry Moore, actress Gloria Swanson and a young Marianne Faithfull.

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