It has been revealed that iconic photo on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s fourth album was most likely taken by Ernest Farmer, the first head of the Polytechnic Regent Street, now known as University of Westminster.
The photo was discovered by Brain Edwards when he was carrying out research for a current project. With the photo holding such global fame thanks to the English rock band, he instantly recognised it and began to investigate its history. His first clue on the road to revealing the photographer was the inscription on the front page that read: “Reminiscences of a visit to Shaftesbury. Whitsuntide 1892. A present to Auntie from Ernest.” With the first name of the photographer and location of the photo revealed he was on his way.
Through looking at the quality of the photo he was relatively confident that it had been shot by a professional photographer. With this hunch he started to search for chemists from the area as they are often part of the photography process. On his search he found a chemist in Salisbury who happened to have a son named Ernest whose handwriting appeared to match the handwriting in the photo album. This Ernest was Ernest Farmer, the first Head of the Regent Street Polytechnic.
While he could not be completely sure of the identity of the thatcher Ernest photographed, he believes it is a man called Lot Long, who passed away in 1893.
About his discovery Mr Edwards said: “Dreaming what unique contribution to knowledge might animate a global audience, whilst forming the basis of a hitherto unimaginable exhibition; a Victorian photograph of a thatcher wouldn’t top many lists. During the daily survey which provides grist for my writings, there are many small but not really significant surprises when trawling new online advertisements for What is History Now?
“Encountering the original photograph of the immediately recognisable Stick Man from the cover of Led Zeppelin IV, was rather different. It was a chance find that beckoned nostalgia and waves of delight. The archives of the University of Westminster provided invaluable assistance during the short sprint to identify the photographer named Ernest. Without that assistance he may well have remained a mystery.”
The photo has been acquired by the Wiltshire Museum who are set to include it in an exhibition titled The Wiltshire Thatcher: a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex. It is set to open next year and will celebrate the former Westminster head’s work.
David Dawson, Director of Wiltshire Museum, said: “The Wiltshire Thatcher: a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex exhibition will celebrate the work of Ernest Farmer, who today is little-known but was a leading figure in the development of photography as an art form. Through the exhibition, we will show how Farmer captured the spirit of people, villages and landscapes of Wiltshire and Dorset that were so much of a contrast to his life in London. It is fascinating to see how this theme of rural and urban contrasts was developed by Led Zeppelin and became the focus for this iconic album cover 70 years later.”
Dr Paula Gortázar, Course Leader of Photography BA Honours, added: "We are thrilled to learn about this recent discovery. As the oldest academic institution offering photography courses in the UK, we take immense pride in its historical legacy and the pioneering spirit of its founders. Ernest Farmer, author of the iconic album cover, recognised the value of photography education and laid the foundation for what has now become one of the most prestigious photography departments in the country.
“Building upon Farmer’s progressive vision of the medium, we have recently launched a range of undergraduate and postgraduate photography courses at Westminster. These programs incorporate innovative developments in their curriculum, placing the use of emerging technologies and the development of the students' creative vision at the core of their education. Our goal is to expand career prospects for all our graduates, equipping them to thrive in the rapidly evolving creative industries. The newly approved courses include a Fashion Photography BA, an Expanded Photography MA, and an updated Photography BA, which builds on the success of our previous undergraduate programme."
Find out more about Art Design and Visual Culture courses at Westminster.
Photo credit: Wiltshire Museum, Devizes
