Irish Historical Photography · Dublin · Late 19th Century
Victorian Dublin Lady — Lauder Brothers, Westmoreland Street
Original cabinet photograph · Lauder Brothers, 32 Westmoreland Street, Dublin
Catalogue details
Description
An original late-Victorian cabinet-card portrait of an unidentified lady, by Lauder Brothers of 32 Westmoreland Street, Dublin, with a finely decorated photographic studio reverse. She poses beside ornamental studio furniture, holding a small book or album.
- Date
- c. 1880–1900 (estimated)
- Place
- 32 Westmoreland Street, Dublin
- Country
- Ireland
- Photographer
- Lauder Brothers (Lauder Bros.)
- Address
- 32 Westmoreland Street, Dublin
- Format
- Original cabinet-card mounted studio photograph
- Process
- Photographic print; exact process not confirmed without physical examination
- Extent
- One photographic card, printed front and reverse
- Dimensions
- Measurements gladly provided on request
- Subject
- Unidentified Victorian woman
- Reference
- TBH-IRL-PH-LAUDER-LADY-WESTMORELAND
- Condition
- Please consult the photographs for condition. Additional photographs are available on request.
Shipping quoted by destination before payment
Historical context & sources
The sitter wears a dark high-necked bodice with a patterned skirt and an elaborate upswept hairstyle. She stands beside carved studio furniture, holding a small book or photographic album. The scene illustrates the deliberate arrangement and social formality of commercial Victorian portrait photography.
The Dublin studio imprint
The mount identifies Lauder Bros., 32 Westmoreland St., Dublin. The reverse bears an elaborate ornamental printed advertisement reading Artists & Photographers, with claims that photographs could be enlarged to life size and children photographed instantaneously. An invitation to order additional copies by name and number reflects the studio's commercial photographic practice.
Historical significance
The Lauder family forms part of Dublin's nineteenth-century photographic history, including the photographic tradition associated with James Stack Lauder, later known professionally as Jacques Lafayette. That family connection does not establish the identity of the individual photographer who made this portrait.
The sitter remains unidentified. The date is an estimate based on the dress and presentation rather than a written or independently documented date. The photographer's address is taken directly from the printed mount.
Collector's interest
A useful example for collections of Irish photographic history, Dublin commercial life, Victorian portraiture and printed photographic studio advertising. Front and reverse are preserved and illustrated together.
