Photographic portrait of a lady in a fine dress, holding a book. Brisbane, 1862-65.

A$85 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 103 x 63 mm, verso with studio imprint of J. Watson, Photographer, Queen-street, Brisbane ; the albumen print has a couple of light surface marks (but what appears to be a stain at upper left is in fact simply the dark section of the painted backdrop and a shadow on the curtain!); the mount has some wear at bottom margin recto , and some marks verso . A beautifully composed studio portrait by John Watson, one of Brisbane s most important pioneer photographers. As early as 1855 Watson had been appointed manager of the Brisbane branch of Thomas Glaister s prestigious Sydney firm. From 1860 he spent two years in Sydney, where he worked with James Walker. On his return to Brisbane in 1862 he established a business under his own name in Queen Street. This portrait would have been taken relatively soon after Watson opened this studio. The wealthy sitter s hairstyle and dress date it firmly to the early 1860s.

• Binding: Hardcover

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