In common with other photographers, the Lafayette Studios used
the awards they had won as a means of promoting their work.
This section outlines the exhibitions where their work was displayed
and medals presented, as well as recording references to their
work in contemporary photographic journals.
CONTENTS
1849 PARIS MEDAL
Consulted La Lumiere in the Bureau des Estamps Paris - no mention
of Lafayette or similar names.
1855 PARIS MEDAL
Journal of the Photographic Society, December 21 1855
p. 265
See leader article regarding the apparent confusion over who
had and had not won medals at the Paris exhibition. Apparently
contradictory lists of medal winners were circulating in France.
Journal of the Photographic Society, December 21 1855
p. 277
List of British and colonial winners according to the official
proclamation. No mention of Lafayette or other
family names:
Grand Medal: Fox Talbot
Silver: Claudet, Fenton, Llewelyn, Lyte, Count de Montignon,
Robertson J, Sherlock W, Thompson, White.
Bronze: Delamotte, Diamond, Kingsley W, Lamb, Rejlander, Turner
BB, Townshend F, Williams H.R.
Honourable Mention: Mayall, Newton, Reade, Ross & Thompson,
West, Wilk
British Colonies: Hon Mention: Dount (Montreal), Kilburn (Australia),
Duperry (Jamaica), Gorr (Sydney), Palmer (Toronto)
1867 EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE
MEDAL
Journal of the Photographic Society, July 16th, 1867
pp 65-68
List of winners for Exposition Universelle. (Purports to be
comprehensive) Lafayette or derivatives not among them. The
list refers to ‘English Exhibitors’, though this
probably means British. You could try French magazines for possible
Irish entrants/winners.
Journal of the Photographic Society, October 15th,
1867 p 120
A review of exhibits by country. No mention of Lafayette or
derivatives.
British Journal of Photography, July 12th, 1867 p 327
List of medals Paris expo. No mentions of James Lauder.
Photographic News. July 5th, 1867 p 313
Paris expo list of medals and honourable mentions.
Lafayette not included.
NB: The absence of a Lafayette medal in 1867 is supported by
the relevant issues of both the ‘British Journal of Photography’
and ‘The Photographic News’, neither of which mention
that name among prize winners. He could, of course, have been
an operator in a studio which did win though this is unlikely
because all the winners are very famous amateurs.
1884 ELECTION TO PHOTOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY
Journal of the Photographic Society, 1884-85 vols: Index
Lafayette p 22
J Lafayette, 30 Westmoreland Street, Dublin - elected Member
of the Society i.e. Photographic Society
of Great Britain.
1884 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF GREAT
BRITAIN MEDAL Dates of exhibition 6 Oct
- 13 Nov
The Photographic Journal, 1884, p 1
The (London) Exhibition will remain open from Monday, the 6th
of October, until Thursday, 13th of November. Admission (Ten
till Dusk) One Shilling. it will also be open every Monday,
Wednesday, and Saturday Evening, from Seven to Ten. Admission
Sixpence. Optical Lantern every Monday Evening.
Exhibition Catalogue of the Photographic Society of
Great Britain - LONDON. October 4th, 1884
No 179 J Lafayette - Portraits
No 387 & 388 Portraits Lafayette medal
30 Westmorland St, Dublin address given. No designation of type
medal.
Exhibition Catalogue Photographic Society of Great Britain November
24th, 1884 p 28
Presentation of medals by President. Lafayette referred to by
name ...’medals had properly been awarded to...’
British Journal of Photography, October 10th, 1884
p 651
A digest of press comments about Photographic Society exhibition.
Daily News refers to ...’Mr Lafayette takes a medal for
exceptionally fine portraits.’
‘OPINIONS OF THE LONDON DAILY PRESS ON THE PHOTOGRAPHIC
EXHIBITION’
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.- The annual exhibition of the Photographic
Society of Great Britain, which will be opened to the public
today in the Gallery of the Royal Society of Painters in Water-Colours,
in Pall Mall East will be remembered rather by reason of the
generally high level of the results obtained than for any startling
novelty in the treatment of subjects or methods of work...
Photographic News, Oct 10, 1884 - p 642 - London exhibition
There is a photograph of the exhibition hanging. Important for
giving an indication as to the ‘Salon’ style hanging.
Also p 644 – ‘Lafayette of Dublin exhibits excellent
portraits and for those he has been awarded a medal. The most
striking is perhaps a picture of two ladies at the piano, one
fingering the keys and the other standing at her right side,
we will suppose, singing.’
British Journal of Photography, October 17th, 1884
p 661
Review of Photographic Society Exhibition.
THE REVIEW IS ACCOMPANIED BY A LINE DRAWING AFTER LAFAYETTE'S
PICTURE
No 179: ‘Three frames of portraits of high quality bear
the name of Lafayette of Dublin, and a medal has been awarded
to two of these (Nos 387-388) containing three quarter length
figures of ‘grand panel’ size. No 179 contains portraits
of smaller size. All being of excellent quality from a technical
point of view, while artistically there is little to find fault
with. The selection made from No 179, as an example of posing,
is scarcely done justice to in our illustration.’
1884 DUBLIN EXHIBITION MEDAL
Dates of exhibition 18 Nov -
British Journal of Photography, 21 Nov 1884 pp747-8
Opening of exhibition & reference to Lafayette
The Amateur Photographer, November 21, 1884, p 108
Exhibitions
The Dublin Exhibition
The exhibition, promoted by the Photographic Society of Ireland,
which opened on Tuesday last {18th November}, in the spacious
gallery of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, is one of which,
for a first effort, the Society may well be proud....
The Photographic News, Vol XXVIII. No 1368. November
21 1884, pp 737 - 739
The Dublin Exhibition
The Photographic Society of Ireland have good reason to congratulate
themselves on the collection of pictures and apparatus that
has been brought together by their endeavours within the walls
of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and owe no little gratitude
to the authorities of that Institution for their great kindness
in lending their rooms for the purposes of a Photographic Exhibition.
The public portion of the building, which was erected by private
munificence in 1830, was built especially for a picture gallery,
and is exceptionally well lighted -- at least, as far as the
two principal rooms are concerned; the lighting of the third
is much inferior to the others.
The collection numbers some seven hundred and thirty frames,
together with several albums, a large stand of ceramic photographs,
and a small table of cameras, lenses, shutters, &c. In point
of quality we believe it will compare favourably with that recently
on view in Pall Mall, many of the photographs exhibited there
having been also sent to Dublin; while out of eighteen artists
who obtained medals this year in London, no fewer than fifteen
are represented. A very large number of the pictures have been
already noticed in our columns in the notices of the Pall Mall
Exhibitions of 1882, 1883 and 1884, so that we need not do more
than mention a few of their names. Amongst these are Mr. Tagliaferros'
interiors of St. John's Church at Malta (Nos. 163, 235, 308,
308, &c.) Mr. H.P. Robinson shows a large series -- The
Mill Door (No. 57), ‘He Never told his Love’ (No.
43), ‘Come Across’ (428), and many others.
Mr. W.P. Marsh shows his Sea Studies (No. 242), and Messrs.
West a frame of yachts (No. 14), including that figured at page
643. Mr. Symond has two splendid frames of yacht studies (196,
212). M. Grassin's ‘Breaking Waves’ (718) unfortunately
came too late, and have been in consequence relegated to the
third room, as have his ‘Folkestone Boat’ (No. 720)
and ‘Quai Gambetta’ (719). Mr. Renwick shows a number
of his inimitable frost studies, full of frosty fog, of which
we like Nos. 152 and 445 the best; No. 218, an elaborate composition
print of a skating scene, though very wonderful as a piece of
manipulation, is not nearly so satisfactory. Mr. Berkeley shows
some charming little platinotypes, ‘A Likely Place for
a Trout’ being perhaps the best. Messrs. Mendelssohn,
Hubbard, Lafayette, Gibson, Koch, Clerk, Shadbolt, Auty, Godbold,
Berry, Adams and Scanlan, Nesbitt, Brownrigg, Donkin, Whaley
and others are represented by one or more of their Pall Mall
frames of this year, while the Autotype Company's enlargement
of Mr. Mayland's great triumph ‘There's Sorrow on the
Sea’ (No. 210), and Mr. Robinsons ‘Nor' Easter’
[sic], Professor Donkin's ‘Deut du Geant’, both
original (186), and enlargement (302). Mr. Pointer's ‘Brighton
Cats’ belong to 1883. From the 1882 Exhibition we notice
Messrs. Chaffin's ‘Sisterly Intercession’ (125)
and ‘Cherry Ripe’ (394); Mr. McLeish's beautiful
‘Misty Morning on the Wear’ (69), as well as some
of his more recent work. It would be obviously utterly impossible
to notice in a single article, even by name, all the pictures
deserving recognition, so we must ask those who are omitted
to kindly take the will for the deed.
Before passing on to note a few of the especially Irish photographs,
there are two we cannot pass by. One (No. 450), ‘Reading
to Granny’, by Mr. Gillard, a charming picture in platinotype,
the attitudes of child and grandmother being most natural, and
the lighting and general treatment all that could be desired.
The other (355), ‘The Corn Doctor’, by Mr. F.S.
Seed, is also an admirable composition, the expression of both
operator and patient being inimitable, while the technique is
unexceptionable.
Taking a rapid survey of the rooms as the numbers go, and passing
over those already mentioned and many others in favour of native
work, we may allude to a nice little frame of cloud studies,
by Dr. Pearsall (24), and Mr. E.P. Johnson's capital picture
of ‘The Connaught steaming out of Kingston Harbour’
(59), and H.M.S. Neptune (53). Mr. George Mansfield shows a
dozen charming studies in the Pyrennees and Spain, of which
we fancy most those of ‘Sauveterre’ (71 and 507),
the former being unquestionably one of the very best landscapes
in the room -- no slight praise when McLeish, Renwick, England,
Horsey, Brightman, and others are well represented. Messrs.
Mavius and Vivash, of Belfast, show a fine frame of large portraits
(No. 65), as do Messrs. Crawford of Dublin, the latter on porcelain
(No. 83). Mr. C.W. Watson shows three frames of nice little
views (Nos. 79, 290, 529), which are, however, cold in colour,
and their tone is further reduced and the effect marred by the
folded maroon cashmere on which they are mounted. the last named,
consisting of a few pictures of the Dublin Exhibition Palace,
taken down a few years since, are deeply sunk in a frame of
almost crimson plush. Mr. S. Baker has two large frames, each
containing a large number of views (No. 121), chiefly in North
Wales and (303) in various part of Ireland, and illustrations
of Druidical and other antiquities. They are all good an careful
works, but in some cases betray the use of a lens of too short
focus. At every corner we encounter Mr. J.L. Robinson, who is
a most prolific exhibitor, and as he mounts in single frames,
his exhibits occupy a large portion of the catalogue.
Mr. John Chancellor, a well-known Dublin portraitist, shows
to great advantage; his pictures, though not so pretentious
as those which gained a medal at Pall Mall for Mr. Lafayette
(Nos. 200, 203, 209), are to our mind far more refined in style
and treatment. We would especially notice (94) ‘The Belle
of the Evening’, (116) ‘The Captain of the Team’,
(213) ‘Il Penseroso’, and (403) a Portrait.
Mr. Greenwood Pim is represented by five frames; No. 173, Miscellaneous
Studies in the neighbourhood of Dublin; of which, a scene in
the College Botanic Gardens and a group of sheet are best. No.
211 contains views at Aix les Bains, Venice and 314 studies
of tree trunks in platinotype; 482, views in the English lake
district and 496, ‘Caught Napping’, a gelatino-bromide
enlargement from a carte negative of a young lady asleep in
a sunny garden. The worth Hon. Sec. of the Society (Mr. A. Conan)
has several frames of Welsh and Irish scenery, snow scenes,
&c. (215, 216, 241, 243). Besides Mr. E.P. Johnson, already
noticed, instantaneous sea photography is represented (exclusive
of Messrs. West and Symonds) by Mr. T.H. Smythe (208) and Mr.
F.W. Monsell (175). They are of small size, and, though intrinsically
good, are completely eclipsed by the larger pictures. Mr. Rigby
sends several frames of pictures of Brazil, Buxton. Other Irish
amateurs whose works we have not space to enter into in detail
are Messrs. Baston, Kellsall, Scott, Fleming, Rober, and Codd,
whose snow scenes (50 and 51) are remarkably good; Mitchell,
Walker, Whittaker, Yeates, &c.
In conclusion, we would draw especial attention to a magnificent
series of views in Ceylon, contributed by a Mr. W.L.H. Skeen;
both originals and enlargements (Nos. 297, 312, and 333) being
particularly noteworthy. Mr. H.N. White sends a large stand
of ceramics. The chief exhibitors of apparatus are messrs. Watson,
Shew, Sands and Hunter, Mayne and H. Robinson; the new patent
camera of the latter being in especial favour in Ireland.
The medals will be awarded by the vote of the Society. We hope
to publish the list next week, together with some further notes
on pictures of necessity passed over in the present issue.
Our block print shows some of the pictures at the Dublin Exhibition
with the tab labels attached; these labels being removed when
all the pictures were hung. Commencing on the left hand, the
frame standing by itself at the top contains a canvas enlargement
by Messrs. Morgan and Kidd; immediately under this is Mr. Dixon's
tiger; on each side of the tiger we have studies by Mr. G. Nesbitt.
Mr. Mayland's ‘Sorrow on the sea’ will be recognised
as next in the same row, and immediately under Mayland's picture
is a frame containing three portrait studies by Lafayette; while
one remove to the right of this is to be found Mr. Simmonds'
admirable collection of yacht pictures. Several other exhibits
will be recognised by the reader. Our photograph is by Mr. Greenwood
Pim, and he will himself be recognised as being shown seated
in the lower right-hand corner. The gentleman seated at the
desk is Mr. MacCarthy, the curator of the exhibition.
Photographic News, November 28th, 1884 p 763
second notice of Dublin show
‘Portraits under 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 J Lafayette, Portraits
Boudoir No 239 SILVER.’
‘Portraits, 8 1/2 x 6 1/2, and over. - E.J. Chancellor,
‘Il Penseroso’ (213) - silver. J. Lafayette ‘Portraits’
(203) – bronze
The Amateur Photographer, November 28, 1884, p 122
The voting for the Medals and ‘Amateur Photographer Prize’
has resulted in the latter falling to Mr. Mansfield for ‘Saveterre’,
No. 71, while the medals are distributed as follows: -
... Bronze Medals. -- Robinson and Sons, Dublin, for 271, and
J. Lafayette, for 203...
c Dec 1884 NORTHAMPTON
EXHIBITION BRONZE MEDAL
Photographic News, December 12th, 1884 p 802
Northampton exhibition. Bronze awarded to J Lafayette for large
portraits (No 317)
Photographic News, December 26th, 1884 p 818
Northampton Museum - review – ‘A striking frame
of Boudoir portraits (4), by J Lafayette, arrests the attention.
They are very uniform in quality, and technically good.’
c Oct 1885 MEDAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN
Exhibition Catalogue Photographic Society of Great Britain,
October 3rd, 1885 p 8
List of exhibits Photographic Society London.
No 286 Charge of the Light Brigade (interesting!!) J. Lafayette
No 319 Mrs Harry Taylor (direct from life) J. Lafayette.
No 320 Mrs. Scroopes Bernard and Child (direct from life) -
MEDAL
No 321 Baby Bernard (direct from life)
No 322 Mrs Harry Taylor (direct from life)
No 323 Children of J Robertson Esq (direct from life)
No 335 Baby Watts
Address given as Dublin.
Exhibition Catalogue Photographic Society of Great
Britain, November 27th, 1885
p 27 Presentation of medals by president.
‘ M Lafayette's pictures also the judges considered
very beautiful, being distinguished for delicacy of treatment,
and I hope Mr Lafayette will continue to persevere in the
path he had marked out for himself.’
British Journal of Photography, October 9 1885 p
644 - London exhibition - J Lafayette listed as winner.
British Journal of Photography, Oct 23 1885 p 675
- Line drawing of ‘Baby Bernard’ picture
Also p 676 – ‘Of the comparatively small show
of professional portrait work in the exhibition, the finest
undoubtedly, is that of Lafayet (sic), of Dublin, which strikes
the eye on first entering the room. Close examination shows
a considerable amount of working up (!), but this does not
detract from the beauty of the result, nor does it prevent
the award of a medal. Opinions differ as to the best of the
series, but we have given the palm to Baby Bernard (No 321)
selected for illustration, though many competent judges agree
with the medal decision, which was given in favour of Mrs
Scroope Bernard (No 320). Whichever may take the first place,
the whole series is above the average.’
Photographic News, 1885 Oct 9 p 641 - First
notice of Photographic Society Exhibition.
‘No 320 Mrs Scroope Bernard and Child, by J Lafayette,
is a very striking example of the show-case style in photography.
In these cases one never knows how much is due to photography,
and how much to retouching; and the judges should act with
much caution.’
c Feb 1886 DUNDEE
GOLD MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, Feb 19 1886 p 117
- Dundee exhibition.
‘No 1 A gold medal for the series of not fewer than six
portraits which, in the opinion of the Judges, possesses the
highest degree of merit irrespective of size:- J Lafayette.’
British Journal of Photography, Feb 26 1886 p 133
-
‘The gold medal for the best series of portraits, irrespective
of size, is awarded to Mr J Lafayette, of Dublin, for the
same collection of pictures which gained them a medal in Pall
Mall (Photographic Society of London) last year, the ticket
being attached to No 200 Mrs Bernard and Child, which was
also the chosen one on that occasion.’
Photographic News, Feb 19 1886 p 127 - Dundee
exhibition.
‘No 1 A gold medal for the series of (not fewer than
6) portraits, which in the opinion of the judges, possessed
the highest degree of merit, irrespective of size:- J Lafayette.’
c April 1886 DERBY EXHIBITION
(certificate)
Photographic News, Apr 30 1886 p 288 - Spring exhibition
in the corporation art gallery Derby.
J Lafayette of Dublin awarded a certificate for portraits.
c OCT 1886 EDINBURGH
GOLD MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, Oct 29 1886 p 681
- Edinburgh
‘A series of not less than six portrait studies, 12
x 10 upwards - Gold J Lafayette for No 415 Baby Bernard, and
No 426 Mrs. W. Bernard and Child.’
Photographic News, Oct 29 1886 p 699 - Edinburgh
International exhibition
‘Class 1 - A series of not less than six portrait studies
12 inches by 10 inches and upwards. gold - J Lafayette, Dublin
for No 415 (Baby Bernard) and No 426 (Mrs W Bernard and child)’
NB: The same pictures which won London medal in 1885 and those
which Photographic News referred to as heavily retouched.
c OCT
1886 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN EXHIBITION: NO
MEDAL
Exhibition Catalogue Photographic Society of Great Britain,
October 2 1886
London exhibition of Photographic Society.
No 49 The Misses Darley
No 50 Miss Dufrene
No 51 Miss Gardiner
No 52 Miss Armytage Moore
No 98 Miss O'Neille
No 120 Miss O'Neille
c OCT 15th 1886 OLDHAM EXHIBITION
SILVER MEDAL
Photographic News, Oct 15 1886 p 672 - Oldham exhibition
of photographs
‘Silver medal to J Lafayette, Dublin.’
c 1886 NOTTINGHAM EXHIBITION
The Amateur Photographer, Feb. 19, 1886, p 93
BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM. SECOND EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
PROFESSIONAL WORK... For Portrait or Series of -
Silver Medal to J. Lafayette, for series of Portraits, specially
for portrait, ‘Mother and Child’, 137. (No gold
medals given)
c 1886 LIVERPOOL
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF NAVIGATION. TRAVELLING. COMMERCE
AND MANUFACTURE
Opened by Queen Victoria May 1886
c MAY/JUNE 1887 DERBY GOLD MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, May 13 1887 p 292
‘Class 1 Series of six portraits - J Lafayette Dublin
gold medal.’
British Journal of Photography, June 24 1887 p 392
- The Derby Exhibition.
‘For the best photograph in any class - Gold Medal J
Lafayette Dublin.’
c MAY 1887 NEWCASTLE GOLD MEDAL
Photographic News, May 13 1887 p 290 - Newcastle Industrial
exhibition -
Series of six portraits (class 1)
J Lafayette Dublin gold medal for Nos 35 - 40.
c SEPT 1887 CORNWALL POLYTECHNIC
SILVER MEDAL 2ND CLASS
The Photographic News, September 9, 1887, p 562
The Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The following is a list of the awards made in connection with
the exhibition just opened.
Silver Medals First Class - W.J. Byrne, F.A. Green, H.P. Robinson
Silver Medals Second Class - W.H. Hyslop, J. Lafayette, B. Wyles
The Photographic News, September 16, 1887, p 577
The Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The fifty-fifth annual Exhibition was opened on Tuesday, September
6th, at the Polytechnic Hall, Falmouth... After referring
to the various departments of the Exhibition, he remarked,
with regard to photography, which was in charge of Mr. Brooks,
who took a great interest in the Society, that this department
was in advance of previous years in portraiture; J. Byrne
receiving the first silver medal for his untouched portrait
of the Hon. Fred. Tollemache, and J. Lafayette also having
an excellent portrait of the Countess of Londonderry, to which
has been awarded a second silver medal.
1887 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
OF GREAT BRITAIN ANNUAL EXHIBITION: James Lauder
DID NOT EXHIBIT
Exhibition Catalogue Photographic Society of Great
Britain, 1887
J Lafayette did not exhibit at Photographic Society in London.
NB: Journal of the Photographic Society, Feb 88
- Lafayette is no longer listed among the members of the Photographic
Society - elected in 1884, no explanation given for resignation.
c 1887 THEALE PHOTOGRAPHIC
EXHIBITION
No reference found
c JAN 1888 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
OF IRELAND (No exhibit) Date in 1887
Photographic News, Jan 6 1888 p 12 - Exhibition
of Photographic Society of Ireland - a big show - didn't exhibit.
c Feb 1888 CRYSTAL PALACE MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, March 2 1888 p 134
- Crystal Palace show
‘Medal for 28 and 31, J Lafayette (pro).’
Photographic News, Feb 24, 1888 - Crystal
Palace exhibition
Lafayettes and Werner of Dublin sent some fine portraits
Photographic News, 2 March, 1888 p 130
J Lafayette (pro) medal
c MARCH 1888 LIVERPOOL
SILVER MEDAL (2nd class award)
British Journal of Photography, March 9 1888 p 152
- Liverpool Photographic Exhibition
‘Portraits extra silver, J Lafayette.’
Photographic News, March 9, 1888 p 152 -
Liverpool exhibition -
Second class award - silver medal J Lafayette.
c APRIL 1888 GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Bronze medal Large panel of Mss of Londonderry
British Journal of Photography, April 20 1888 p 249
Gloucestershire exhibition - Lafayette winner.
Photographic News, April 20, 1888 p 241
- Gloucester exhibition -
‘most liberal with medals’
‘Class 1 Portraiture - Extra bronze for large Panel
portrait of Marchioness of Londonderry, by J Lafayette.’
c SEPT 1888
CORNWALL SILVER MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, Sept 14 1888 p 582
- Cornwall
‘Mr James Lafayette, of Dublin, sends two very large direct
pictures of the highest technical excellence, being the largest
probably that have ever been exhibited. To Hide and Seek the
Society's first silver medal has been awarded - a very difficult
subject. The other - Fishing - two little children, one of whom
is fishing with a rod and line in a glass globe of gold fish,
the other looking on.’
Photographic News, Sept 21 1888 p 601
- A short piece which refers to ‘meaningless superlatives’
in provincial newspapers and cites ‘The Cornwall Gazette’:
‘Mr J Lafayette of Dublin exhibits two genre pictures,
perfect specimens of the photographic art.’
Although medal winners are not cited for this year, the tone
of the newspaper review would suggest that James Lauder had
indeed won a medal. Journalists usually went along with the
judges and were impressed by medal winners.
c NOV 1888 OLDHAM BRONZE MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, Nov 23 1888 p 747
Oldham.
Bronze medal for the second best series, J Lafayette, Dublin.
c OCT 1889 PARIS GOLD OR SILVER
MEDAL
British Journal of Photograph, Oct 4 1889 p 647 - Paris
- J Lafayette silver.
Le Progrés photographique, 1889, pp 173-174
Liste des récompenses l'exposition universelle de 1889
(Award list at the Universal Exhibition of 1889)
Classe XII
Médailles d'argent.
(Silver Medals)
... Lafayette, James, Grande-Bretagne...
Le Moniteur de la Photographie, Paris. 1889, p 156
Liste des récompenses
A l'exposition universelle de 1889
(List of awards at the Universal Exhibition of 1889)
Médailles d'argent
(Silver Medals)
...Lafayette James - Grande-Bretagne
Bulletin de la Societyiété française
de photographie, Paris, 1889, pp 254-255
Récompenses
(Awards)
Médailles d'argent...
(Silver Medals)
Lafayette... Gr.-Bretagne
Photographic News, June 7 1889 p 370 - Expo
Univ Paris (gold medal)
We now come to perhaps the most imposing and attractive of
the photographic exhibits - that of Mr. J. Lafayette, of Dublin.
The first to catch the eye in this display will probably be
two coloured photographs - one of the Queen, and the other
of Mrs. Wellesly Bernard and daughter, a picture of a lady
with a child leaning over her shoulder. The colouring of both
is good; that of the group struck the writer as being the
best coloured photograph in the exhibition; it is rich, without
being gaudy or tricky, and is delicate at the same time. These
pictures are described as ‘permanent carbon photographs
painted in water-colour on porcelain’. The word porcelain
must probably be taken in the photographer's sense and would
be more truly substituted by the expression opal glass.
Going round the stand, we come to a portrait of the Princess
of Wales, which, although a showy picture, is hardly equal
to the others in the same case. The shadows round the eyes
are rather too harsh for a representation of flesh. Next comes
a very large portrait (for a direct one, which these all appear
to be) of a lady on a plate about twenty-eight inches long.
The lady is habited in a Grecian dress, and stands by a fountain
on the edge of which is a bird, whilst another is perched
upon her finger. The picture is rich in effect, and the definition
is very equal throughout. There is a certain amount of ‘loudness’
in some of the accessories which to the fastidious eye rather
detracts from the beauty of what is certainly a remarkable
production of the camera. A portrait of Lady Brooke is a very
fine specimen of photography. There is beautiful modelling
in the light dress, body, and skirt, a point in which photography
has so often been found deficient, especially when large direct
camera exposures are in question. Another picture of the same
size is entitled a portrait study, and represents a little
girl looking at a painting. This, again, is a rich and attractive
picture, but somewhat too loud in the accessory background
to be quite satisfactory. Next comes ‘The Young Idea’,
a picture representing two children with a bowl of fish, into
which one has dropped a line, whilst the other looks on. ‘Baby
Bernard’, a portrait of a child standing by a glass
screen, is a picture well known in England, having secured
a medal some years since at the Exhibition of the Photographic
Society of Great Britain. We now come to a picture with which
it would be difficult to find fault - that of the Marchioness
of Londonderry. It is rich, and at the same time soft and
delicate. The half-tones in the light parts, the feather-fan
and embroidery, are remarkably well rendered, and the background
is a plain one, thereby rendering the picture agreeable to
those who, whilst admiring the technical excellence of Mr.
Lafayette's exhibits, are yet a little offended with the showiness
of some of the backgrounds and accessories.
The portrait, still of the same large size, of the Duchess
of Leinster, is in many respects a magnificent production.
The pose is graceful and good, and the flesh is rendered as
flesh; the folds of the drapery are rich and effective. The
lighting is in what is known as the Rembrandt style, and the
background is, in some respects, like those adopted by portrait
painters of a former generation, with folds of curtain overhead,
and a pillar at the side. There is, however, a certain artificiality
given to the picture by the introduction of some grapes and
vine leaves on the column. This vegetation does not appear
to have existed in the background originally, but to have
been touched in upon the plate, with the result that as only
lights and not shadows have been thus added, the fruit and
foliage look semi-transparent, as though made of frosted glass.
Next comes a portrait of the Prince of Wales, and then follows
a ‘portrait of a Lady in Venetian dress’. The
subject stands with her back to the observer, and her right
hand is raised and resting upon something in the background.
Behind the figure a mandoline [sic] is lying on a chair, whilst
in front of her is an ornamental carved support or truss.
The loudness of this accessory is the disfigurement of the
picture, which is, in some respects very fine. Mr. Lafayette's
exhibits are altogether amongst the most attractive in the
gallery. The photography is generally excellent, and the poses
original and vigorous. The tendency to showiness that is observable,
particularly in the backgrounds, of most of them, is what
will please some tastes, and rather offend others. That it
is not a necessary concomitant of his work is evidenced by
those pictures in which a plainer background is used.
Photographic News, Oct 4 1889 p 654 - Paris
exhibition
(This is the only reference to a Gold Medal - all others give
Lafayette the Silver. Gold Medal J Lafayette - worth observing
that Frank Meadow Sutcliffe was among the silvers.)
THE PARIS EXHIBITION AWARDS TO EXHIBITORS.
BY LEON VIDAL.
PRIZES AWARDED TO BRITISH EXHIBITORS.
Gold Medal. - T.R. Dallmeyer, James Lafayette, Ross &
Co., John Thomson, Henry Vanderweyde, Walery, Watson &
Sons.
Silver Medal. - T.P. Gibson, J.F. Shew & Co., Sands and
Hunter, Frank M. Sutcliffe, Werner & Son, West & Son,
John Fergus, Frith & Co., Fred. Hollyer, Hayman Seleg
Mendelssohn.
Bronze Medal. - James Burnside, T. Blaine Scott, York &
Son, W. Byrne.
c MARCH 1890 CRYSTAL PALACE GOLD
MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, March 21 1890 p 182
Crystal Palace exhibition.
Gold medal for best alcove - Lafayette Dublin.
c APRIL
1890 NEWCASTLE GOLD MEDAL
British Journal of Photography, April 25, 1890 p 263
- Newcastle
‘Class D Series of three portraits. Silver Lafayette Dublin,
A GOLD MEDAL FOR THE BEST THREE PICTURES IN THE EXHIBITION IRRESPECTIVE
OF CLASS - Lafayette.’
‘In class D Lafayette takes first place with portraits
of Mrs Langtry (211), Miss Moody (213) and of a lady and child
(215), by no means the best in his exhibition.’
‘Class D (portraiture) is also strongly represented, the
frames numbering over 100. Lafayette evidently greatly impressed
the judges, but the medal slips are impressed on by not means
the best of this fine exhibit; 224-5-6-7 are, in our opinion
superior in every way to those which bear the labels - 211 Mrs
Langtry; 213 Miss Moody; and 215, Portrait of a Lady and Child;
these are commonplace by comparison.’
Photographic News, April 25 1890 p 309 -
Newcastle exhibition.
J Lafayette mentioned as among those who show works from last
years Crystal Palace exhibition.
p 311. ‘The gold medal for the best three pictures in
the exhibition is awarded to J Lafayette of Dublin. The following
were the prize-taking pictures out of 23 exhibits by this
contributor:- Portrait of Mrs. Langtry (211); portrait of
Miss Moody (213); portrait[s?] of a lady and a child (215).
Mr. Lafayette thus secures the highest award of the exhibition.’
Photographic News, March 21 1890 p 215
gold medal for best alcove - Lafayette Dublin.
Jan 1890 EDINBURGH (NO MEDAL
FOUND)
British Journal of Photography, Jan 2 1891 p 11
- Winners listed for Edinburgh 1890 - James Lauder not among
them.
Photographic News: Jan 2 1891 p 12 - Lafayette is not referred
to among the winners.
C 1890 WASHINGTON US
No reference found
c 1891 PHOTO USED FOR STATUE
Photographic News, April 10 1891 p 286
‘A compliment is paid to photography in the statue of
the Princess of Wales, by Prince Victor Hohenlohe, recently
on view at St. James Palace. The statue is almost a literal
reproduction of the admirable portrait of the Princess taken
by Mr. Lafayette, of Dublin, and representing her in the doctor's
cap and university gown. The photograph, it is well known,
has influenced fashion - not the only photograph, by the way,
which has had this effect...’
c 1893 CHICAGO
James Lauder exhibited - no mention of medal
British Journal of Photography, Oct 6 1893 - p 637
- Chicago exhibition.
Mr J Lafayette - photographs printed in carbon.
c Nov 1893 LEYTONSTONE CAMERA
CLUB EXHIBITION
Photographic News, Nov 24 1893 p 745 - Leytonstone
- no mention of either exhibiting or winning a medal.
c 1893 THE ROTTINGHAM CAMERA
CLUB
No reference
1895 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION:
G LAFAYETTE EXHIBITED: NO MEDAL
1895 Exhibition Catalogue of Photographic Society
of London:
G Lafayette, 15 Gordon Street, Glasgow.
No. 277 Professor Storey, Glasgow University
(silver - that is silver print not silver medal.)
The Photographic Journal, September, 1895 (Catalogue)
The Exhibition will remain open from Monday, the 30th of September,
until Thursday, 14th of November.
1895 LEYTONSTONE
CAMERA CLUB GOLD MEDAL
The Amateur Photographer, December 6 1895, pp 372-3
THE EXHIBITION OF THE LEYTONSTONE CAMERA CLUB
In the Champion Open Class the gold medal has been received
by G. Lafayette for ‘A Study’, a picture that
one cannot help admiring for what it might have been rather
than for what it is. Mr. Lafayette's glossy-surfaced pink
and purple prints and their garish frames take us back to
a period in photography when art was almost an unknown quantity
and when a high polish on a print was obliged to do duty for
other and more desirable qualities. In striking contrast are
F.W. Wates' ‘Ships that Pass in the Night’, which
receives the bronze and R. Terras' ‘The Ghost Story’,
which receives the silver medal.
British Journal of Photography, Dec 6 1895 p 777
- Leytonstone Camera Club.
‘In the open classes, the gold medal of the champion
class is awarded to Mr G Lafayette for A Study, the merit
of which, as a picture, we cannot deny; but we cannot avoid
making a protest against the printing process chosen and the
frame in which it appears, and, if Mr Lafayette wishes to
retain his reputation for artistic work, he would do well
to refrain from exhibiting that example of the worst kind
of artificiality that photography has lent itself to in the
past - Springtime.’
Photographic News, Dec 6 1895 p 772 - the
Leytonstone camera club exhibition.
‘In the "Special Champion Class’ a gold medal
given to "A Study" (122) by G Lafayette.
c 1895
SOUTHPORT SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB
The Amateur Photographer, September 27, 1895, p 195
Exhibitions:
Society Opens. Closes Secretary
Southport Oct. 28 Nov. 2 G. Cross, 15, Cambridge Arcade, Southport.
(Note, same source, p 330 has a list of winners which does
not include Lafayette)
Photograms of '95: A Pictorial and Literary Record
of the Best Photographic Work of the Year
p 60 Professor Storey (277), by G. Lafayette, is a striking
antithesis to the ‘new’ photogram in its sharply
accentuated detail.
1896 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION:
G LAFAYETTE: NOT EXHIBITED
Exhibition Cat of Photographic Society of London 1896 - Not
exhibited.
c March 1897 SOUTH LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC
SOCIETY EXHIBITION
The Amateur Photographer, January 22, 1897, p 65
South London Photographic Society's Exhibition takes places
on March 6th and six following days.
British Journal of Photography, March 12 1897 p 170
- South London Photographic Society Exhib.
Well-known works by among others G Lafayette - not a winner
however.
The Amateur Photographer, October 1, 1897, p 276
‘A Study’ by G. Lafayette, though a beautiful
piece of photographic printing, is one of those abnormally
long-limbed young ladies which this photographer seems to
have an especial gift of discovering, but that the arrangement
of the robe makes it so possible to stand the figure on a
stool and so make the apparent length from the waist to feet
quite out of human experience, that one feels justified in
assuming that such is the trick resorted to, the fact that
the gown passes out of the picture, and the feet not shown,
giving colour to the assumption. The face is doll-like though
pretty, but the coiffure too modern, we have thought, for
the costume.
Photograms of '97, London, 1898
p 66 G. Lafayette's ‘A Study’ (36) is one of the
very few examples of the purely professional style of portraiture
which has been designated "the ordinary thing."
It is thoroughly good, careful, studio work, and if more of
the ordinary thing had been so good as this we should not
have had such a general rush for the extraordinary. One wonders
why the lady is so very tall, from the waist downward, and
feels that a loss of 3 inches would be a gain to the picture.
JULY 1897 DEVONSHIRE HOUSE
BALL
Photographic News, July 9th, 1897 p 434
‘A Great Ball - At the Duchess of Devonshire's historic
ball at Devonshire House last week, a photographic studio
formed part of the arrangements, and we read that a camera
was much in request to record some of the wonderfully accurate
costumes worn by the guests. These included the creme de la
creme of Society, from Royalty downwards, and some of the
most celebrated men and women of history were personified.
A photographic record of the scene and those who took part
in it was no doubt secured, and in future times, when the
doings of this great year (Queen Victoria's Jubilee) are calmly
narrated in calm prose, its interest will be extremely deep.’
c SEPT 1897 ROYAL CORNWALL
POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY - 1ST SILVER
The Amateur Photographer, July 16, 1897. p 45
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. - The sixty-fifth annual
exhibition of this Society will open at Falmouth on August
31st. Medals and prizes are offered in various departments,
including photography.
The Amateur Photographer, September 10, 1897. p 216
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
In the photographic section the following is the list of awards:-
PROFESSIONAL. - First Silver Medal - F.W. Byrne and G. Lafayette.
(Note, there is no gold medal)
The Amateur Photographer, September 17, 1897. p 235
EXHIBITION AT FALMOUTH
No. 588, ‘A Portrait Study’, by G. Lafayette,
has a grace and dignity which is far too seldom met with in
portraiture, and which places it easily in the front rank
of artistic things.
British Journal of Photography, Sept 10 1897 p 587
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society -
‘in Professional Portrait Section, Mr G Lafayette of
Glasgow receives an award of a first silver medal for his
beautiful portrait of a lady, being a noble example of the
art; he also sends another portrait which is well worthy of
inspection.’
Photographic News, Sept 10 1897 - p 588
- Royal Cornwall Photographic Society,
First silver medal - G Lafayette, Glasgow.
c Oct
1897 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION: G LAFAYETTE: EXHIBITED
Carte back: Latest awards (but no reference to medal)
1897 - G Lafayette, same address (as 1895) No 36 a study (carbon)
British Journal of Photography, Oct 1 1897 -
Royal Photographic Society exhibition
‘Lafayette, of Glasgow, has one exhibit, No 36, a study
in brown carbon, nearly full-length. The portrait itself is
of considerable merit, although the frame from the gaudy nature
of the inner gilt line, hardly allows the eye to do justice
to it.’
c 1897 NOTTINGHAM
Carte back: Latest awards
No reference
c 1897 LEYTONSTONE
Carte back: Latest awards
No reference
c 1897 CORNWALL
Carte back: Latest awards
No reference
c 1897 SOUTHPORT
Carte back: Latest awards
No reference
1898 KNIGHTHOOD FOR LAFAYETTE?
Photographic News, January 14th, 1898: ‘Honours for
Photographers’
This article regrets that no photographers were included in
the new year honours list especially since it had been strongly
rumoured that three photographers were to be knighted in the
special Jubilee honours list the previous year. The article
continues:
‘Practically speaking, every branch of science, art
and industry has been selected for honours by the Queen -
photography alone stands out in the cold, not surely because
it cannot supply suitable candidates for knighthood, as it
is obvious that men like Hollyer, Sutcliffe, Mendelssohn,
Lafayette, and Vanderweyde would supply a quintette (sic)
the claims and suitability of which could not be denied. And
five photographic knights would be enough to start with.’
1898 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
- G LAFAYETTE EXHIBITED
The Photographic Journal, September, 1898. Catalogue
Forty-Third Annual Exhibition. The Exhibition will remain
open from Monday, the 26th of September, until Saturday, the
12th of November...
Journal of the Photographic Society, 1898 - p 33
G Lafayette, same address - No 63 A Study (carbon)
No 179 A Study (carbon)
British Journal of Photography, Oct 7, 1898 p 647
- Royal Photographic Society exhibition.
‘Mr G Lafayette touches for him a somewhat unusual note
in No 63, A Study, showing a lady with a violin. The composition
of the work is decidedly graceful, but the black colour of
frame and print give the whole thing a very sombre aspect.’
The Photogram, 1898, pp 84-5
G. Lafayette's ‘study’ of a girl with a violin
is very good indeed, and his other ‘study’, No.
179, is a capital example of the very best class of professional
portraiture....
The British Journal of Photography, October 7, 1898,
pp 647-8
Times have changed with a vengeance when one contemplates
two or three of this year's awards which have gone to productions
upon which not one-tenth of the time has been taken over the
work as by exhibitors like Kay, Lafayette, W. Gill, Webster,
Sweet, F. Hollyer, Percy Lankester, John Stuard, W.M. Warnerke,
Ralph Robinson, and other first rate professional men who
are strongly supporting this year's Exhibition. It is surely
one of the keenest ironies of the whole thing that an irrepressible
and buoyant amateur may send in two or three little ‘faked’
hand-camera shots to the Pall Mall Exhibition, and secure
a medal at the first time of asking, while men such as those
we have named may year after year put in weeks of work to
their portrait exhibits and yet entirely fail to catch the
judicial eye. We are sure we shall have with us the sympathies
of the entire profession when we express regret that of this
year's medals not one has gone into professional hands, notwithstanding
the undoubted fact that, in an experience of nearly twenty
years of this Exhibition, we do not remember to have seen
an abler collective display of portraiture, and one, moreover,
giving promise of still better things in the future....
...No. 179, one of the Mr. Lafayette's portrait studies, errs
perhaps on the side of flatness, but is otherwise excellent.
SOURCES:
British Journal of Photography (Liverpool) 1854 onwards
British Journal of Photography Almanacs
No references at all in any British Journal of Photography
Almanac between 1883 and 1899.
Journals of the Photographic Society (of London) 1853 onwards
(Apart from those above) Additional volumes of Journal of
Royal Photographic Society checked were 1876 - 1883 and 1898
- 1910. There are no references to Lafayette before 1884 and
after 1898. This throws up the interesting fact that J Lafayette
won a medal the first time he exhibited - 1884 -in the most
prestigious of British photographic exhibitions.
The Photographic News (London) 1858 onwards
No mention of Lafayette in Photographic News from reference
to knighthood on 14th January 1898 until 1908.
Neither is any direct reference made to Lafayette in any Photographic
News Almanac between 1883 and 1899. The following is, however,
of some relevance:
p 318 1894 Photographic News: -
‘The Medal Mania’ - Writing of the medal mania,
our genial American contemporary, Wilson's Photographic Magazine,
had the following: "Even our old greybeard friend and
numerous medallist Mr H P Robinson, has entered a protest,
and some committees will not permit a medal to go for pictures
for which a medal has been previously awarded. Medals will
not soon again be of such value as they were when Mr Robinson
received his first, or even his twentieth, one. It is different
dispensation now, and the time is near at hand when the medal
taker will be almost ashamed to show his prize.’
