The Southern Party, 1911
Fine Art Society, 1913.
Original silver bromide print. 405 x 595mm. Ponting's blindstamp signature to lower right corner, with the original Fine Art Society label to rear. Handsome wooden mount, titled in white ink, and in a fine contemporary oak frame. A very attractive and well-preserved example. Some toning and oxidisation to margins, chiefly concealed by mount, with two hairline cracks to lower edge.
A beautifully presented example of an important image, here in the most desirable format.
This image was taken in January 1911, before the party pictured left for the Great Ice Barrier to lay depots of provisions for the Polar Party the following year. The photograph shows P.O. Crean, P.O. Keohane, Lt. Gran, Capt. Scott, P.O. Forde, Mr. Meares, Mr. Cherry-Garrard, Capt. Oates, Dr. Atkinson; sitting Dr. Wilson and Lt. Bowers, with Mount Evans in the background.
It features seven of the initial Polar party who set off for the South Pole the following year, and four of the five men that constituted the final, fatal, party that made it to the South Pole in 1913 but never returned.
This photograph, like the others sold by the Fine Art Society, was available in two sizes, both the smaller 320 x 435mm and this larger size. It is most uncommon in the largest format. Indeed, of the six copies we can trace sold this century, this is the only example in the larger size.
PROVENANCE: The Fine Art Society, 1913, No. 101.
Stock ID: 42185
£25,000.00
