Vittorio Sella

Vittorio Sella (1859-1943) was a pioneer who transformed mountain photography and left behind some of the most iconic images of the Himalaya.

Born into a cultured family in the northern Italian town of Biella, Sella made his first ascents in the nearby Alps. Mastering arduous photographic techniques like the collodion process allowed him to develop large format glass plates in the field under punishing conditions. His multi-plate panoramas achieved unprecedented clarity and emotional resonance, and he began to attract worldwide respect from institutions like the Alpine Club.

Sella's introduction to the Himalayan realm came in 1899 when he accompanied British explorer Douglas Freshfield's expedition circumnavigating Kangchenjunga. Though their summit ambitions were thwarted by heavy snowfall, Sella seized the opportunity to create portraits of the peaks dusted by pristine powder snow – earning the later admiration of Ansel Adams, who would write that ‘the purity of Sella's interpretations move the spectator to a religious awe’. Sella’s most pivotal and fruitful partnership was his friendship with the Duke of Abruzzi. Their expedition to K2 in 1909 was the culmination of Sella’s career, and again produced some outstanding images which are presented here.

This exhibition marks DAG’s second foray into the realm of early photography. The guest curator is the distinguished British filmmaker, explorer and writer Hugh Thomson.