Brunel standing before the launching chains of the Great Eastern in London photographed by Robert Howlett in 1857.

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This photograph was taken in London at the site of the launch of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s third and final ship, the pss Great Eastern. Brunel is standing in front of the ship’s launching chains. If you look closely you will notice some mud on his trousers. It seems that Brunel was not afraid to get his clothes dirty when getting involved with attempts to launch his ship. This photograph is so iconic that it has shaped how we think about Brunel today. You can see his stovepipe hat, his cigar and the strap of his cigar case. All of these things have become part of his public image. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a famous engineer when this photograph was taken in 1857. This photograph and others in the same series were widely reproduced, with copies bought by the public. Engravings were also made and printed in newspapers, allowing these images to be more widely seen.

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Size: 4569px × 4569px
Location: London, England
Photo credit: © photo-fox / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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