The Office of Public Works is pleased to present this exhibition that showcases the work of one of Ireland’s pioneering photographers, William Despard Hemphill (1816–1902), a native of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. 'Silent Exposure' - the Photography of William Despard Hemphill' will be on permanent display in the Main Guard, Clonmel.

A well-respected medical practitioner with a wide range of interests, Dr Hemphill experimented with the latest photographic techniques and won several prestigious awards. At a time when photography was a complex, expensive and sometimes dangerous pursuit, Hemphill was among the first to photograph in detail antiquities such as the Rock of Cashel and Holycross Abbey, as well as castles at Mitchelstown, Lismore, Cahir, Kilmanahan and Shanbally.

He was welcome too in some of the ‘big houses’ around Clonmel, including Newtown Anner, Marlfield, Knocklofty, Castletown Cox and Curraghmore, where there was considerable interest in amateur photography.

Hemphill’s images – portraits, still life, architecture and scenery – are records of immense historical value. They are also sublime works of art, inviting us to reflect on temporal beauty, artistic rendering and photography as interpretation.

A fascinating aspect of Hemphill’s work was his stereoscopic (3D) photography. This consisted of creating a 3D illusion from a pair of 2D images and was very popular in the Victorian era. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view some of Hemphill’s stereoscopic images – experiencing them as the Victorians would have – through special 3D viewers known as stereoscopes.

Alongside the exhibition, the OPW has produced an illustrated publication: William Despard Hemphill, Irish Victorian Photographer edited by Dr Karol Mullaney-Dignam, de­picting the life and times of this almost forgotten photographer.

The Main Guard is delighted to provide a home for the exhibition on a permanent basis. The site's season has been extended and will now close on 23rd September 2015.

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Notes to Editors:

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Venue: The Main Guard, Sarsfield St, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Telephone: +353 52 6127484

E-mail: mainguard@opw.ie

Facebook: The Main Guard

Dates: 2nd April - 23rd September 2015

Times: Tuesday - Sunday 9am - 5pm

Admission: Free

Exhibition type: Visual Art – Photography

Images attached for use:

• Rock of Cashel from South-east, (1861) (W.D. Hemphill from a private collection)

• Our First Drawing Room. Geraldine and Evelyn Cox of Castletown Cox, (1867) (W.D. Hemphill from a private collection)

Media Queries: OPW Press Office 046 942 6078 or e-mail opwpressoffice@opw.ie