"MR
THOMAS
DONOVAN,
ARTIST
AND PHOTOGRAPHER,
THE ST
JAMES'S
PORTRAIT
STUDIO,
ST JAMES'S
STREET.
Mr Donovan
has now
such a
reputation
as an
artist
and photographer
that his
handsome
studios
in St
James's
Street
have become
a leading
centre
of attraction
to visitors.
Indeed,
the handsome
show-front
of the
premises,
with its
fine display
of beautifully
mounted
photographs,
etc.,
forms
in itself
a small
exhibition
of art
work of
the highest
class,
and one
can rarely
inspect
the window
without
noting
that every
phase
of the
ever-changing
life of
Brighton
is watched
by Mr
Donovan,
and caught
"on
the wing"
by his
busy camera.
The character
of these
productions
render
it easy
to understand
why Mr
Donovan
was awarded
the silver
medal
for technical
and artistic
excellence
in 1889.......He
has been
established
in Brighton
for about
twenty-two
years,
and the
display
of portraits
and photographic
work of
all descriptions
in the
show-rooms
at the
St. James's
Portrait
Studio
is one
of the
most notable
exhibitions
of its
kind in
Brighton.
Here are
to be
seen many
beautiful
enlarged
portraits
in platinotype,
auti-carbons,
cabinets,
etc.,
besides
interiors
and views,
children's
portraits
being
specially
conspicuous,
besides
miniatures
on ivory,
porcelain,
etc.,
oil paintings
on a photographic
basis,
permanent
carbon
enlargements,
and in
fact every
variety
of art
work connected
with modern
photography,
and every
picture
might
be classed
as a masterpiece
of its
kind.
The celebrated
Rembrandtesque
portraiture
is represented
by many
very fine
examples,
and altogether
the collection
forms
a charming
gallery
of photographic
art, portraits
being
shown
in every
size and
style
"from
locket
to life-size."The
studio,
which
is of
large
extent
and abundantly
lighted
with a
pure north
light,
is on
the ground
floor,
so that
intending
sitters
are saved
all trouble
of ascending
and descending
stairs,
and all
the most
improved
modern
lenses,
cameras,
appliances,
and accessories
are provided
to ensure
the perfection
and accessories
are provided
to ensure
the perfection
of the
work and
the comfort
of the
sitters.
Waiting
and dressing
rooms
are provided,
and there
are also
work-rooms
for retouching,
painting,
finishing
and mounting
the pictures,
only first
class
artists
and workpeople
being
employed,
and the
whole
of the
work being
under
the general
supervision
of Mr
Donovan,
who gives
a special
personal
supervision
to the
posing
of the
sitters
and the
operating
work in
the studio.
Mr Donovan,
however,
is ably
supported
by his
two sons
and his
daughter,
and an
efficient
staff
of other
assistants...In
the photographing
of interiors
Mr Donovan
is unrivalled,
but there
is a new
class
of "interiors"
for which
he has
lately
provided,
and which
are connected
rather
with science
than art,
viz. :
Surgical
photography,
or Sciagraphy,
by means
of the
Röntgen
rays,
and already
this department
has become
an important
subsidiary
feature
of the
business.
We may
add that
Mr Donovan's
charges
are strictly
moderate,
and only
the very
highest
class
of work
is allowed
to leave
the premises.
The connection
is a very
large
one, extending
all over
Sussex,
and including
a large
proportion
of the
most distinguished
visitors
to Brighton,
and the
premises
are very
conveniently
situated
at 1,
St. James's
Street,
only three
doors
from Old
Steine,
and within
easy reach
of all
principal
hotels,
etc.,
in Brighton." (A
page from
W. T.
Pike &
Co.'s
booklet
"Views
and Reviews
: Brighton
&
Hove"
, published
around
1897.
The article
on pages
94-95
was devoted
to "Mr
Thomas
Donovan,
Artist
and Photographer,
The St
James's
Portrait
Studio,
St. James's
Street.") credit
for this
extract:
David
Simkin
|
