Feb 07, 2008 - Sale 2135

Sale 2135 - Lot 33

Price Realized: $ 15,600
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 15,000 - $ 20,000
NOTMAN, WILLIAM (1826-1891)
Impressive album containing 56 remarkable topographic views of Canada, marvelous composites, studio tableaux, and scenes of Niagara Falls, comprising 11 full-plates and 45 smaller views. Albumen prints, 8 3/4x13 to7x9 inches (22.2x33 to 17.7x22.8 cm.) and the reverse, most with handwritten captions on the mount. Royal folio, brown morocco, gilt-ruled raised bands, blind and gilt-lettered border decorations, light wear. 1860s-70
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Additional Details

William Notman's successful photographic career spanned thirty-five years. During that time he built up the largest business in North America, establishing a primary studio in Montreal and, at one time or another, seven studios in Canada and, counting seasonal studios at several colleges, nineteen in the northeastern United States.


This Notman album demonstrates his formidable talents, with a picturesque scene of shad fishing, bird's-eye-view of Montreal, majestic studies of Niagara Falls and two of his fantastic composite images.


According to Stanley Triggs of the McCord Museum: "The occasion of a fancy dress skating carnival in the Victoria Rink was staged in honour of Prince Arthur, who was stationed in Montreal. Notman declared his intention of making a record of the event, and invited those who planned to participate in the skating carnival to bring their costumes and skates to the studio and have their portraits taken for a composite photograph."


One hundred and fifty people answered the advertisement and donned their diverse costumes. The final picture includes: Scottish couples in Highland costume, Elizabethan ladies and courtiers, soldiers and sailors, a pilgrim father, the goddess Diana, young women in peasant costumes, a woman dressed as the morning star, and an "Indian" who appears to be aiming his arrow at a woman smoking a cigar.


The smaller views include two different tableaux of a hunt, with naturalistic studio scenes, replete with camp fires and caribou. This group also highlights places of natural beauty (St. Anne's Falls, Chaudiere Falls, and Rideau Falls) as well as local engineering feats, including Victoria Bridge.


JPGs are available upon request.