Friday 11 October 2013

John Walker and two unknown individuals by Robert Baxter [carte de visite]

Photo details:

TitleJohn Walker and two unknown individuals by Robert Baxter
Date1880
CollectionGeorgina Auld nee Muir photo album
Digital IDapc-000079

Photo TypeCarte de visite

Mount Size63 x 106 mm
Mount Thickness0.620 mm
Mount ColourCream
Mount EdgesStraight
Mount CornersSquare
Mount BorderSingle black line

Image Size57 x 98 mm
TechnologyAlbumen
Features

Front ImprintNone
Back ImprintSmall sized, text and artwork



Front face

Rear face

Front face:

John Walker and two unknown individuals by Robert Baxter (front face) [Auld Photograph Collection apc-000079-s1]


Originally I had marked the photograph as unknown, but by making comparisons with other photographs in the album, I believe the individual on the left to be John Walker. A previous blog post on John Walker by David Scott [Carte de visite] shows John Walker in 1876. Research by +Paul Cooper has revealed that Walker arrived in New South Wales during 1876.

This particular photograph appears to show a slightly older Walker. A close-up comparison follows and shows John Walker in 1876 (left side) compared to John Walker in this photograph (right side).

Close-up comparison of John Walker
[Note: click on image for larger view]

For dating purposes and based on the above comparison we could assume approximately five years plus or minus two years between photos.

Rear face:

John Walker and two unknown individuals by Robert Baxter (rear face) [Auld Photograph Collection apc-000079-s2]


Imprint on rear face is medium sized and includes both text and artwork. Inscription of the text reads as:

ROBERT BAXTER
Artist - Photographer
YOUNG.

Researching the photographer Robert Baxter has been elusive, but Sandy Barrie's fantastic book and resource titled Australians Behind the Camera - Directory of Early Australian Photographers, 1841 to 1945 has been invaluable.

It appears Robert Baxter was a travelling photographer who operated under his own name throughout the period 1870 to 1903. He is recorded in the following regional towns of southern New South Wales - Campbelltown, Yass, Coma, Queanbeyan, Young, Merimbula and Wollongong. In regards to operating from Young, where this particular photograph was taken, there are two time periods listed in Sandy Barrie's publication - December 1873 to January 1875 as well as during the year 1880.

Taking the dates that Robert Baxter was in Young and overlaying the information when John Walker arrived in Australia, we can date the photograph to the year 1880.

Additional references

  • Barrie, Sandy (2002). Australians Behind the Camera - Directory of Early Australian Photographers, 1841 to 1945. S. Barrie. Sydney South.

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