1849 PARIS MEDAL Opening & closing date of exhibition?

Consulted La Lumiere in the Bureau des Estamps Paris - no mention of Lafayette or similar names.

1855 PARIS MEDAL Opening & closing date of exhibition?

Journal of the Photographic Society: Dec 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: Dec 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 [no initial?], Rejlander, Turner BB, Townshend F, Williams H.R.

Honourable Mention: Mayall, Newton, Reade, Ross & Thompson, West, Wilks??

British Colonies: Hon Mention: Dount (Montreal), Kilburn (Australia),  Duperry (Jamaica), Gorr ? (Sydney), Palmer (Toronto)

1867 EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE MEDAL Dates of exhibition?

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 mags 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 auteurs.

1884 ELECTION TO Photographic Society

Journal of the Photographic Society 1884-85 vols: Index Lafayette p. 22 [ck ref]

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

SOURCE: 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 page ref?

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 & ref to Lafayette

SOURCE: 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....

Source: 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 recognized as next in the same row, and immediately under Mayland's picture is a frame containing three portrait studies by Lafayette {see photocopy}; while one remove to the right of this is to be found Mr. Simmonds' admirable collection of yacht pictures. Several other exhibits will be recognized by the reader. Our photograph is by Mr. Greenwood Pim, and he will himself be recognized 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

SOURCE: 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...{ie. Portraits}

c Dec 1884 NORTHAMPTON EXHIBITION BRONZE MEDAL Dates of exhibition?

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 PS of Great Britain Dates of exhibition?

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 (dfl) - MEDAL

No 321 Baby Bernard (dfl)

No 322 Mrs Harry Taylor (dfl)

No 323 Children of J Robertson Esq (dfl)

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 Dates of exhibition?

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 (PSofL) 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) Dates of exhibition?

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/not medal but parchment? Dates?

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 (parchment?).

"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 Dates of exhibition

Photographic News: Oct 15 1886 p. 672 - Oldham exhibition of photographs

"Silver medal to J Lafayette, Dublin."

c ? 1886 NOTTINGHAM EXHIBITION

SOURCE: THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER, Feb. 19, 1886, p. 93

BOROUGH OF NOTTINGHAM. SECOND EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS {No dates given}

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 Dates of exhibition?

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 Dates

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 Dates ?

SOURCE: 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.

SOURCE: 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 PS - elected in 1884, no explanation given for resignation.

c ? 1887 THEALE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

No ref found

c Jan 1888 Photographic Society OF IRELAND [No exhibit] Date in 1887 Chandler ck

Photographic News: Jan 6 1888 p. 12 - Exhibition of Photographic Society of Ireland - a big show - didn't exhibit. Interesting.

C Feb 1888 CRYSTAL PALACE MEDAL Dates?

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 p. ? - 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) Dates?

British Journal of Photography: March 9 1888 p. 152 - Liverpool Ph Ex.

"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 Dates?

[Extra? 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 Dates?

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 Dates?

British Journal of Photography: Oct 4 1889 p. 647 - Paris - J Lafayette silver. [medal/print?]

SOURCE: Le Progrès photographique, 1889, pp. 173-174

Liste des récompenses à l'exposition universelle de 1889....

{Award list at the Universal Exhibition of 1889}

Classe XII

Médailles d'argent.

{Silver Medals}

... Lafayette, James, Grande-Bretagne...

SOURCE: 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

SOURCE: 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.

{SUMMARY OF ABOVE:

Pictures mentioned by name as follows:

Two coloured portraits

1. The Queen

2. Mrs. Wellesley Bernard (same as above. He considered this one a real winner.) ...

"...permanent carbon photographs painted in watercolours on porcelain - opal glass".

Also Princess of Wales.

Plus "a lady on a plate about 20 inches across".

Lady Brooke. "

A little girl looking at a painting".

The Young Idea - two children with a bowl of fish."

Baby Bernard - again!

Marchioness of Londonderry - again!

Reviewer refers to "showiness of some of the backgrounds and accessories."

Also the Duchess of Leinster in the "Rembrandt style". Grapes and vine leaves on the column retouched in. (Sounds superlatively tasteless to me.)

Prince of Wales.

Portrait of a lady in Venetian dress.

Concludes with: "Mr Lafayette's are altogether among the most attractive in the gallery."}

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 Dates?

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 Dates?

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.

See note at end: D Lee says also won a silver but no ref quoted?

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 Ref 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 Dates?

No reference

1895 Photographic Society EXHIBITION: G LAFAYETTE EXHIBITED: NO MEDAL

1895 Exhib Cat of Ph. Society. of London:

G Lafayette, 15 Gordon Street, Glasgow.

No. 277 Professor Storey, Glasgow University

(silver - that is silver print not silver medal.)

SOURCE: 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

SOURCE: 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 {I think I we have a photocopy of this from London 1895 exhibition - RH}, 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." (I don't understand the significance of Springtime in this context - perhaps it is the title of another of his exhibits)

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

SOURCE: 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}

SOURCE: 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 Dates?

Exhibition Cat of Photographic Society of London 1896 - Not exhibited.

c March 1897 SOUTH LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC Society EXHIBITION Dates?

SOURCE: 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.

SOURCE: 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.

SOURCE: 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 DHB

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 - G LAF Dates?

SOURCE: 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.

SOURCE: 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}

SOURCE: 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 Dates?

Carte back: Latest awards (but no ref 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 ref

c 1897? LEYTONSTONE

Carte back: Latest awards

No ref

c 1897? CORNWALL

Carte back: Latest awards

No ref

c 1897? SOUTHPORT

Carte back: Latest awards

No ref

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

SOURCE: 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."

SOURCE: 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....

SOURCE: 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 & 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 THE Photographic News FROM [REF TO KNIGHTHOOD 14TH JAN 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."