Throughout the nineteenth century there were significant developments in scientific thought and theory that included the emergence of revolutionary concepts, such as evolution and natural selection. Prince Albert was deeply interested in science and was instrumental in the establishment of the South Kensington Museum that led to the founding of the Science Museum.

This photograph by Dr Hugh Welch Diamond depicts a young boy using scientific equipment and is from an album collected and arranged by the Prince. Diamond was both a photographer and psychiatric doctor and is best known for his portraits of psychiatric patients.