Peterborough 1860

Alfred Capel Cure captured this albumen silver print of Peterborough Cathedral around 1860, a period when photography was emerging as both an art form and a tool for documentation. Cure, an amateur photographer from a privileged background, turned his lens toward the architectural grandeur of England's cathedrals, reflecting the Victorian era's fascination with its historical roots and the power of the church. This image is more than a mere depiction of stone and glass; it encapsulates the Victorian gaze, one that often idealized the past while simultaneously grappling with the rapid changes of industrialization. The cathedral, a symbol of permanence and spiritual authority, stands in contrast to the era's social upheavals and class divisions. Cure’s choice to photograph such a subject speaks to a desire to preserve a sense of order amid societal transformation. Consider how photography itself, a relatively new medium at the time, democratized image-making while also reinforcing existing hierarchies through who had access and control over its production. Cure's work invites us to reflect on the intertwined roles of art, class, and cultural preservation in shaping our understanding of history.