拍品專文
This portrait was just taken after his return from the most famous of his Zambesi expeditions. Livingstone is seated with his manuscript map of the journey (which was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition David Livingstone and the Victorian Encounter with Africa, 1996). On 18th November, 1857, Livingstone wrote a letter to his publisher, John Murray, in which he mentions that he sat for the photographers Maull & Polyblank, the renowned portrait photographers of the scientific community. Livingstone's sitting heralded his arrival as a member of this august circle.