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Portraits by Frederick Downer of Watford |
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Portraits by Frederick Downer of Watford |
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Once the art of photography had been established most of the surviving portraits from Victorian times were mounted on card, the smaller size being called carte de visite (= visiting card) and the large ones were called cabinet cards. The cards were usually printed with the photographer's details, and there may be a negative number, and this information can help date the cards.
In general the quality of the image was very high and it is often possible to produce very satisfactory enlargements. (Click on the blue framed pictures below to see a larger image.)
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The following are examples of CDV produced by Frederick Downer.
This tinted portrait, from a CDV with the same High Street back as the CDV below differs in that it has a name which looks like "Edith Wood" written in tiny script on the back, rather than a negative number, suggesting it may be even earlier perhaps 1862-5 MORE ... |
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A Early pair of portraits (No 2034 & 2035) from Watford High Street address - circa 1870 Picture of Lady standing holding hat - no number - same back
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Lady seated holding a photograph album - Reference Number: 5431B |
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CDV in Frame With Aunt Emily's love and best wishes |
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Boy is No 6028.c and Lady in frame 6026.c - another card with same back 5726 |
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| Portrait of Lady - No 7193B [similar back seen but print in purple No.6532-B ] | ||
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Earliest card with this back seen numbered 7904C
Highest 22461C |
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Portrait of Oscar W. Wild by Frederick Downer dated 1879 (carte de visite) |
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The following carte de visite all have the same back as the above example. Most are numbered with a stylus, which simply leaves an slight impression in the surface of the card which can only be read if viewed at the right angle. |
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March 1877 - No 10818C |
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Young girl No 11974C |
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Young Lady No 12261C |
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Old Lady No 14021C |
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Young girl with basket No 14681C |
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Young Lady No 15733C |
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Bearded Man 15746C |
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Young Man No 22461C |
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"M Y 1885" No number |
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A young child - date unknown -but note reference to "Patronised by the Queen" Sarah Huddle Grave, 1889 - cabinet card with same back - Negative number 37985 |
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ß Boy with Boater No 35476 Same back
Other cards with same back No 35862
Boy on Chair à unnumbered
Suggested date c1888 |
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Mother & Daughter?
CDV with gold-bevelled frame but plain back .No number. Dated July 28th, 1886 - but not clear what date refers to - for instance could be date of photo or birthday of child. |
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Cabinet Cards
Possibly circa 1890 Name embossed - plain back No 41882 |
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Two Young Girls (Sisters?)
Cabinet Card with gold-bevelled frame Name embossed - plain back No 44106 |
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| Portrait of unknown Lady by Frederick Downer taken after 1893 (cabinet card) | ||
%20Potten%20%201848-1906.jpg) |
Ellen (Archer) Potten (1848-1906) by Fred Downer & Sons of Watford The Picture shows her in "Widow's Weeds" with a jet necklace and was almost certainly taken after her husband died in 1901.
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This press cutting, from the Hertford Mercury of 18th February, 1865, refers to a Sarah Rowbottom, aged over 100, living at Stanmore, and who is said to have lived at Bushey at one time. [Genealogy] The article reports "We have before us a portrait of this centenarian, taken by Mr. Frederick Downer, of Watford, an accomplished photographer, whose skill in the art he cultivates has seldom been surpassed. ... This would seem to be one on the earliest portrait photographs taken by Frederick Downer.
Do you know if the original portrait survives - and if so where is it? |
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July 2011 Page Created August 2012 CDV of young child April 2014 CDV of mother & daughter June 2014 Boy on chair added July 2015 Cabinet card with sisters? and tinted portrait August 2016 Additional CDV image plus minor edit
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