[Cathedral door, Salamanca] - Early photography, Public domain image

Charles Clifford was born in South Wales in 1820. He began his career as an apprentice to a local photographer before setting up his own studio in London in the mid-1840s. In 1850 he moved to Madrid, Spain, where he established himself as a successful portrait photographer. Clifford's work was highly regarded by the Spanish royal family and he was appointed court photographer in 1858. He also documented the landscapes, architecture and people of Spain, producing some of the earliest photographs of the country. Clifford's photographs were renowned for their technical excellence and attention to detail. He used the wet collodion process, which produced high-quality negatives that could be enlarged or printed several times. His images captured the beauty and diversity of Spain, from the grandeur of its palaces and cathedrals to the everyday life of its people. Clifford died in 1863 at the age of 43, leaving behind a legacy of some of the most important photographs of Spain from the mid-19th century. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, and his images continue to inspire photographers and art lovers today.