The Hyman Collection is pleased to announce the acquisition of the archive of Simon Marsden from the photographer's family. We are in the process of cataloguing the archive, and will be adding details to this website over the next few weeks. Details can be found here:
Simon Marsden was one of the most remarkable British photographers of the last half century. Famed for his infra-red photographs of buildings and landscape, his photographs explore the presence of the supernatural in the historical sites that he recorded. Marsden, who died in 2012, was also widely acclaimed as the author of numerous books.
This important archive includes:
- c.7000 prints signed and unsigned, including proofs in various stages of completeness, as well as limited editions, and unpublished works
- Notebooks (various sizes, over 20) including notes for Marsden’s photography books
- A detailed A3 notebook giving minute instructions of his photographic techniques including printing notes over 30 box files of contact sheets, highlighted in red where image used
- over 60 boxes of transparencies mostly unpublished
- Over 40 diaries (1971-2011)
- a quantity of correspondence typed signed, manuscript and e-mails
- annotated scripts and location notes
- c.200 marked up Ordnance Survey Maps with circled locations
- a quantity of cuttings
- a quantity of examples of media use of Marsden images including record covers, dust-wrappers etc (artists’ portfolio).
This is a full and comprehensive archive of the development of this important and influential photographer, from his early beginnings in the 1970s up to his untimely death in 2012. It is of note that it includes not only his extensive manuscript notations pertaining to his particular technique, with its subtle yet critical variations, but also his most celebrated works as well as the early American work for which he is less well known.
