ID# 2197:
"Composite Portraits," by Francis Galton
Date:
1878
Pages: (1|2|3|4|5|6)
Source:
University College London, GP, 182

&quote;Composite Portraits,&quote; by Francis Galton

Francis Galton. - Composite Portraits. 7 Plymouth, affords a very easy method of optically superimposing two portraits, and I have much pleasure in quoting the [illustration - portrait] [caption]The accompanying woodcut is as fair a representation of one of the composites as is practicable in ordinary printing. It was photographically transferred to the wood, and the engraver has used his best endeavour to translate the shades into line engraving. This composite is made out of only three components, and its three-fold origin is to be traced to the ears, and in the buttons to the vest. To the best of my judgment the original photograph is a very exact average of its components; not one feature in it appears identical with that of any one of them, but it contains a resemblance to all, and is not more like to one of them than to another. However the judgment of the wood engraver is different. His rendering of the composite has made it exactly like one of its components, which it must be borne in mind he had never seen. It is just as though an artist drawing a child had produced a portrait closely resembling its deceased father, having overlooked an equally strong likeness to its deceased mother, which was apparent to its relatives. This is to me a most striking proof that the composite is a true combination. [end caption] [resume text]following letter, pointing out this fact as well as some other conclusions to which I had also arrived. The letter was kindly forwarded to me by Mr. Darwin; it is dated last November, and was written to him by Mr. A. L. Austin, from New Zealand, thus affording another of the many curious instances of two persons being independently engaged in the same novel inquiry at nearly the same time, and coming to similar results. [end]

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