Landmark of British art comes to Tate Britain after 150 years in Scotland

David Octavius Hill’s Disruption Painting, widely thought to be the first time a painter based his work on photographs, is going on show at Tate Britain, having not left Scotland for almost 150 years
New to London: Disruption Portrait
© Tate, 2016

One of the landmark moments in British art is being celebrated in an exhibition looking at how painters and photographers have worked together through the years.

David Octavius Hill’s 12 ft-wide Disruption Painting, widely thought to be the first time a painter based his work on photographs, is going on show at Tate Britain having not left Scotland for almost 150 years.

The work, which was begun in 1843 and took 23 years to complete, includes detailed portraits of 457 people involved in signing the agreement that set up the Free Church of Scotland in the 19th century. Hill teamed up with photographer Robert Adamson to take their pictures before picking up his brush.

Co-curator Carol Jacobi said the painting summed up the “progressive” spirit of the times. She said: “Every single person who signed the agreement was represented in a proper portrait rather than just a general blob in the crowd. It is incredibly modern that the individuality of each character is respected and it is amazing to think photography was invented in 1839 and within four years artists are using it to do what they want to do with their paintings.

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“What is interesting about the painting is how many women are in it — women were very much a part of the whole process, and when the painting was finished it was a joint project between him and his wife.”

The exhibition will also include work by Whistler and the Pre-Raphaelites.

Painting with Light: Art and Photography from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Modern Age is at Tate Britain from May 11 to September 25.

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