Alexander Gardner

Place: Paisley

Born: 1821

Death: 1882

Biography:

Early Life and Career

Alexander Gardner

, a Scottish photographer, was born on October 17, 1821, in Paisley, Renfrewshire. His early life was marked by an apprenticeship as a jeweler at the age of 14, which lasted for seven years. This exposure to the world of craftsmanship would later influence his approach to photography.

The Turning Point: Embracing Photography

Gardner's interest in photography was sparked after visiting The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, in 1851, where he was introduced to the works of American photographer Mathew Brady. This encounter marked a significant turning point in his career. Gardner began experimenting with photography and reviewing exhibitions in the Glasgow Sentinel.

Civil War Photography and Notable Works

Gardner's most notable contributions were his photographs of the American Civil War, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, and the execution of the conspirators involved in Lincoln's assassination. Some of his most famous works include:

Ruins at Manassas Junction (J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, United States), showcasing the destruction of a turntable on the Orange and Alexandria Gap Railroads.
Abraham Lincoln (Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, United States), a portrait of Lincoln taken in Gardner's studio on November 8, 1863.

Legacy and Later Life

Gardner's work was often misattributed to Mathew Brady, but he is now recognized as a significant contributor to the documentation of the Civil War. He published a two-volume work, Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War, which showcased his photographs and those of his staff. Gardner closed his studio in Washington in 1867 and began photographing for the Union Pacific Railroad, capturing images of the frontier and Native Americans. He passed away on December 10, 1882, in Washington, D.C. Key Points: * Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on October 17, 1821 * Apprenticed as a jeweler for seven years * Developed an interest in photography after visiting The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London, in 1851 * Published Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War, a two-volume work showcasing his Civil War photographs