This
Punch cartoon of 1859 illustrates the upsurge of photographic studios
in the 1850s and the stiff competition between rival photographers.
In 10 years, the price of a photographic portrait had fallen from
one guinea ( £1. 1s ) to 1s 6d.
DAGUERREOTYPE ARTISTS IN BRIGHTON AFTER 1853
After Beard's Daguerreotype Patent expired in August 1853, a number
of Brighton trades people, who had already shown an interest in
the art of photography, set up their own daguerreotype portrait
studios.As early as 1852, William Lane, proprietor of 'Lane's
Cheap Picture Frame Manufactory', established a Photographic Depot
at 3 Market Street, Brighton where he supplied "Daguerreotype
Lenses, Camera Apparatus" and "every other requisite used
in Photography." A complete set of apparatus for the daguerreotype
process cost 7 guineas at Lanes' Depot.In an advertisement which
appeared eight days before Beard's daguerreotype patent was due
to expire, William Lane was offering to supply 'Daguerreotype Apparatus'
to operators and amateurs promising free instruction in the Photographer's
Art to purchasers of materials. By November 1853, Lane had set himself
up as a photographic artist and was offering to provide "a
first class daguerreotype portrait in handsome French case for two
shillings" at his new premises at 213 Western Road.
Robert Farmer, who had taken over William Passmore's Chemist's
shop at 59 North Street in 1852, transformed part of his new business
premises into Daguerreotype Rooms - which included "a room
designed and built expressly with apparatus of very superior construction
for the purpose . . . to ensure a fine portrait." In newspapers
issued in November 1853, Robert Farmer publicized his Daguerreotype
Rooms and "invited the attention of the Ladies, Gentlemen and
Visitors to Brighton to his collection of Photographic Portraits,
taken plain or in colours, by competent Artists". Mr Farmer
offered to take "fine portraits" at moderate prices -
"1s 6d in case; or coloured 2s 6d" which would have been
considerably lower than those charged by William Constable's Original
Photographic Institution in Marine Parade.
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Talbotype - An Alternative to the Daguerreotype in Brighton