This engraving is a copy of Fenton’s photograph of his ‘travelling darkroom’ – in fact, a converted wine merchant’s van (see the photograph to your right). It was included in a review of an exhibition of the photographs in the popular and influential weekly newspaper the Illustrated London News. Fenton acquired all his equipment and chemicals in Britain, and shipped them to the Crimea. According to his own account, this included five cameras, 700 glass negative plates, a stove, trays and dishes. He also employed two assistants – Marcus Sparling (1822–60), seen here seated on the photographic van, and someone known only as ‘William’. Both returned to Britain with Fenton in July 1855.