Five photographic portraits of female Melbourne musical performers, circa 1868

A$750 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Circa 1868. Five albumen print photographs, carte de visite format, each 101 x 62 mm, verso of mounts with studio imprint of Davies Co., Photographers, 91 94 Bourke St. East, Melbourne ; verso of each mount also with contemporary owner s inscription in ink, Henry Benjamin ; one portrait (of a young lady in costume) has a small mark and trimmed mount; otherwise the condition of the entire group is excellent. Henry Benjamin was a Melbourne musical composer and professional music teacher of the 1860s and 70s. These photographs were owned by Benjamin, and the young women in them are almost certainly some of Benjamin s pupils. It appears likely that Benjamin arranged for each of the women to have their portrait taken by Davies Co. From 1868 until the early 1870s Bewnjamin s advertisements, along with notices of public performances of his compositions, appeared in The Argus . The first (4 May 1868) announces: Mr. Henry Benjamin, teacher piano-forte, harmonium and concertina, 217 Bourke St. Terms moderate. Evening lessons ; he later (14 December 1868) adds his private residence to the advertisement, Barkly Villa, Darling Street, South Yarra ; and soon begins to describe himself as Professor of Music ; by June 1869 he had obtained new premises at 103 Collins Street, East; on the 28 August 1869 a notice advertises a newly published musical work by Henry Benjamin: WESTON S OPERA-HOUSE. NEW BALLAD. WILT THOU BE MINE, COMPOSED BY Mr. HENRY BENJAMIN Expressly for WESTON and HUSSEY S MINST

• Binding: Hardcover

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