Talbot, a great student of the arts and sciences, discovered the negative/positive paper process which made multiple reproductions of a single image possible. Announcing his invention in 1839, the work that he subsequently did established the foundation of modern photography and the basis of the process that is still used today. In addition to his technological contributions, his photos represent exceptional artistic achievement, and are featured here along with texts by esteemed Talbot scholars Michael Gray, Arthur Ollman and Carol McCusker. With 85 photos.