Caroline's Constellations (A Celestial Journey)

Title | CAROLINE'S CONSTELLATIONS (A CELESTIAL JOURNEY) Type | Original Gold Cyanotype
Inspiration | Caroline Herschell
Year | 2024

Materials | Cyanotype, handmade paper, 6-carat white gold leaf 8.3in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Inspiration-

This artwork was inspired by Caroline Herschell, a luminary in the field of astronomy, stands as a towering figure in the history of science. Born in 1750 in Hanover, Germany, she broke through the barriers of her time to become one of the first recognized female astronomers.

Working alongside her brother, William Herschel, she ventured into the realm of the stars, turning her meticulous observations into groundbreaking discoveries. Caroline's legacy includes the discovery of several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, and her seminal contributions to the cataloguing of star clusters and nebulae.

Her work was instrumental in expanding the New General Catalogue of nebulae, which remains a cornerstone in astronomical study. In 1828, Caroline Herschel was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, a historic accolade as she was the first woman to receive such an honour.

Beyond her scientific achievements, Herschel's story is one of perseverance and passion, inspiring generations of women to look towards the stars. Her dedication to astronomy, combined with her early love for music, paints the picture of a multifaceted individual who pursued knowledge and beauty in all its forms.

Caroline Herschel's journey from a singer to a star hunter epitomises the limitless potential of the human spirit to transcend expectations and redefine what is possible.

Collection:
This is taken from the series "Women Who Unlocked The Universe"- A Space Of One's Own: These powerful figures in time revolutionised our understanding of the universe and provided invaluable contributions to the field of astronomy, astrophysics and space travel. In pursuing their passions for

the heavens, scouring the skies for stellar spectra, chasing comets and mapping the cosmos they ultimately unlocked the mysteries of the universe.

Technique-

Caroline’s Constellations (A Celestial Journey) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, hand-printed glass plate negatives of star constellation etchings and photographs of the stars.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large-scale negative is contact printed onto the paper by exposure to daylight (UV rays). The print is then processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry, developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours before hand finishing with 6-carat white gold leaf.

Dimensions

Framed: 8.3in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Paper

Handmade recycled cotton rag paper:
150gsm / 100% Cotton Rag / Recycled / Acid Free / Medium Rough

Mount

We use float mounting for all of our framed cyanotypes. The artwork floats above a snow-white, Larson- Juhl 1400 microns (8001 white core mount board), to showcase the paper texture and deckled edging.

Framing

Framed artwork will arrive ready to hang. Each round picture frame is handmade by our London based design team. All frames come with gallery spec, 2mm thick Artglass AR70 / 3mm anti-reflective/ 79% UV protected glazing as standard.

If clients would like a bespoke frame, please let me know as I can have them made in alternative colours, gilding and glazing options.