Nicholas Henneman 1813˜1893

Abstract

Abstract Very little appears to be known of Nicholas Henneman (also spelt Nicolaas, Nicholaas, Nicole, Klaase etc., Hennemann etc.). He was Talbot's assistant and he had charge of the Reading establishment set up by Talbot to produce the photographs to be pasted in his publications, The Pencil of Nature etc. After the Reading establishment closed, Henneman set up a portrait studio in Regent Street, London. He took an important part in the early development of photography in England. An enquiry by a descendant of the Dutch side of the family (P. A. M. van der Helm) in 1976 started this search for more details. As will be seen from In the references, the main body of material has come to us as spin-offs trorn the study of W. H. Fox Talbot and his photographic activities. We have the notes made by J. Dudley Johnston trom the Talbot notebooks and letters at Lacock, part published by him in January 19471 and brought to completion under the editorship of R. C. Smith in December 19682; the paper by V. F. Snow and D. B. Thomas in 19663 and H. J. P. Arnold's biography of Talbot, published in 19774. Even now many questions are still unanswered, the most obvious of which is the whereabouts of Henneman and his family from about 1858 to 1863. Further, we have no comment on Henneman's character, and he remains little more than a cardboard figure. It is hoped that the present compilation will aid in the completion of the total picture.