Italian priest, Burma, 1852 (c)

Photograph by Surgeon John McCosh (1805-1885), Bengal Army, 1852 (c).

This is one of two photographs of the Italian priests who were used in the unlikely role of emissaries by Burmese King Mindon Min in peace negotiations with the British. The study of two such significant but otherwise unknown figures is perhaps illustrative of McCosh's awareness of the importance of photography in documenting history.

From an album of 310 photographs, 1848-1853.