Episode 19: Carleton Watkins Detective

Cartleton Watkins is considered by many to be the foremost 19th century photographer of the American West.  His ‘mammoth plate’ prints can sell for six figures at auction.  How do we rate Watkins prints when they come through the Sotheby’s Photographs department? How do we judge what is a “good” and “bad” print, and what are the metrics that we use to decide?  I’ll give you all of the details in this episode, alongside Watkins’ heartbreaking personal story.