St. Andrews. The Pends 1843 - 1847

This salt print photograph, titled "St. Andrews. The Pends," was created between 1843 and 1848 by the Scottish duo, Hill and Adamson. The image depicts a view through an arched stone passageway, framing two figures in the distance. Photography in this era was still quite new, and Hill and Adamson were pioneering its artistic possibilities. Consider that in 1843, the Church of Scotland was undergoing a period of schism. The photographic studio of Hill and Adamson was uniquely positioned to document key figures in that event. The choice of the ruined St. Andrews cathedral, and of course, the title, invites us to consider the relationship between past and present, permanence and change, ruin and renewal. The presence of people within the ruins might evoke broader questions about the role of institutions in 19th century Scotland. Understanding the image more deeply requires research into the history of photography as well as the history of Scotland during this period. Art exists within a complex web of social and institutional forces, and the role of the historian is to unravel those connections.