The statement that photographs have been produced in natural colours
has been so often circulated, that every account is received with natural distrust. The evidence, however, appears conclusive that M. Lipman, of Paris, has devised, and that M. Lumibre, of Lyons, has carried out, a plan under which every colour is reproduced by light itself without manipulation. Specimens were shown on Thursday to the Photo Club of Paris, including large nosegays, Japanese screens, and even landscapes, the latter " looking," writes the correspondent of the Telegraph, " like very clever studies in water-colours," with all tints reproduced, even to "the laugh- ing blue which passes surreptitiously through fleecy clouds." As yet, the coloured photograph, like the first Daguerrotypes, must always be an original one, the means of reproduction remaining to be discovered ; and the process takes so much time—half an hour—that it is inapplicable to living or moving things. A most important step in advance has however, been taken; and one that will greatly alarm artists in water-colours. The process is for the moment kept secret; but the vehicle would seem to be a gelatine film on glass. That some colours could be reproduced by photography was long since certain, the writer having himself seen in 1851 an accurate reproduction of the green jalousies of an Indian verandah ; but it was feared that a variety of colours could not be fixed by one exposure. That difficulty is disposed of, and the world has only to wait for im- provements suggested by experience.
