Exhibition: William Van Sommer

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A display of unique colour photographs by early garden photographer, William Van Sommer. Van Sommer’s ‘autochrome’ pictures were among the first to capture gardens and the natural environment in colour. His work brings to life plants, flowers and landscapes which are now long gone. It also provides a fascinating window into the past of some of today’s gardens – including the first known colour photograph of RHS Garden Wisley.

This exhibition explores Van Sommer’s photographic technique and shows how his ground-breaking images reflect trends in garden photography at the beginning of the 20th century.

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Image: Autochrome of cinerarias in pots by William Van Sommer, 1913. William van Sommer/RHS Lindley Collections.