First Area of the Great Temple, Karnak

William de Wiveleslie Abney was a British scientist and photographer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His contributions to photographic chemistry and color theory advanced the technical foundations of image-making, particularly in the study of spectral analysis and the permanence of photographic materials. Abney held senior positions at the Royal Institution and the Science Museum, where his research bridged experimental science and visual documentation. His work established standards for archival photography that influenced museum and conservation practice.