Dickens in the Eye of the Beholder: Photographic Portraiture and the Cultivation of Celebrity: An exhibition curated by Leon Litvack, Carrara, Italy

The rise of Charles Dickens, described by an early reviewer as advancing ‘like a rocket’, coincided with the development of one of the most significant technological innovations of the modern age, and one which continues to fascinate and to exercise powerful influences over us all. Photography allowed life-like visual images of Dickens to become inexpensive, pervasive and plentiful; they also provided a means of instant recognition. The author employed some of the best operators of the day to take photographs of him in a variety of poses: in conventional attitudes that suggested wealth, style, and authority, but also in innovative situations: at home with his family, at work at the very desk on which he penned his immortal words, and on stage ready to deliver a dramatic rendition. Taken together, they constitute a remarkable, evolving narrative of celebrity. This exhibition is based on recent authoritative research, and offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the complete range of photographic images of the author, and thus to come to an understanding of how this fascinating blend of art and science contributed to the shaping of public attitudes towards one of the most famous and fascinating figures of his time.