Dr. Jabez Bunting 1843 - 1847

This is "Dr. Jabez Bunting," an early photograph by Hill and Adamson made sometime between 1843 and 1848. The image captures Dr. Bunting, a prominent Methodist minister, in a moment of composed authority. In the 1840s, photography was in its infancy; the new medium was quickly embraced as a tool for documentation and portraiture, but also became a powerful means to reinforce social hierarchies. Dr. Bunting was a key figure in the Wesleyan Methodist movement, a strain of Protestantism known for its emphasis on personal piety and social action. But he was also a divisive figure, criticized for his authoritarian leadership style and resistance to reform. Consider the photographers, David Hill and Robert Adamson, who came from very different social strata, their collaboration reflects the complex interplay of class and artistic vision in early photography. This portrait is more than just a record of a man's likeness; it's a document of social power, religious conviction, and the emerging technologies that would forever change how we see ourselves and each other.