William Borthwick Johnstone, William Leighton Leitch and David Scott as "The Monks of Kennaquhair" from Sir Walter Scott's "The Abbott" 1843 - 1847

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, taken sometime between 1843 and 1847 by Hill and Adamson, depicts William Borthwick Johnstone, William Leighton Leitch, and David Scott as "The Monks of Kennaquhair" from Sir Walter Scott's "The Abbott." It strikes me as theatrical, like a staged scene. What symbols jump out at you? Curator: The most evocative symbol is undoubtedly the book, replicated in the hands of two figures and piled under the elbow of the third. Consider the power ascribed to the written word during this period and particularly its role in religious life. What emotional weight does the book possess here? Editor: I suppose it suggests knowledge, authority, and tradition. They all seem pretty somber. Does the image relate to any shift in how people viewed religious figures back then? Curator: Absolutely. In Romanticism, there was this fascinating push-and-pull with the medieval past. Think of the gothic novel, for instance. The monk could represent piety, knowledge, and order, but also, particularly after the Reformation, suppression and a superstitious worldview. Their garb alone has emotional associations beyond mere costume, signaling the individuals' commitment to this kind of structured religious belief. Editor: So the artists were playing with established symbols, using photography to evoke multiple meanings about these figures? Curator: Precisely. The clothing and accoutrements of the monks tap into existing cultural associations and project a mood onto these people who are assuming these roles. Hill and Adamson aren't simply capturing likenesses, but consciously engaging in a symbolic language tied to cultural memory. The choice of models even impacts the imagery as they embody ideas that existed prior to this particular composition. Editor: I never thought about how deeply symbolic a portrait could be, especially with historical references. Thanks, I learned a lot. Curator: It’s been a pleasure; now consider how these readings change across cultures.