Walton Adams (1842–1934) also known as, Arthur Walton Adams or Arthur Walter Adams, was a professional photographer working at the time when the science and art of photography was developing new techniques in Victorian Britain's "Golden Years".[1] He took photographs of royal family members and politicians.[2][3]

Biography

Adams' was born in 1842 in Hampshire.[4] He died on the 13 June 1934 aged 93, leaving six children.[3] Walton Adams's son Marcus Adams (1875–1959) also became a photographer, including time spent photographing the royal family.[2]

Early career

The earliest references to Walton Adams's involvement in photography show him to be working in the Southampton studio of Samuel J. Wiseman (1825-1872) as an apprentice in 1861.[5] There he met William Stilliard. In 1869 Adams and Stilliard were in partnership at 9 Bernard Street, Southampton. 'Cartes de Visite' described their business variously as the 'South of England Photographic Institution', 'Artists and Photographers' and 'Artists in Photography'. The business claimed the patronage of Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales and the Belgian royal family.[6][4] In 1882 Adams was in partnership with Robert Scanlan though this business arrangement was dissolved in 1883.[7]

Between 1886 and his retirement in 1922, Adams ran his business from a Studio at 27 and 29 Blagrave Street, Reading, a business card for this address is held by the Reading Museum.[4]

Photography historian S. K. May on the Southampton Victorian Photographers website speculates that Adams possibly worked with Richard Leach Maddox, the inventor of lightweight gelatin dry plates. Dr. Maddox was a medical practitioner and his interest in the possibilities of photography to aid medical practice brought him into contact with a small network of photographers in Southampton, one of which was Adams.[8] There is a reference to Adams as the co-inventor of this process in the National Portrait Gallery's photographic archives.[9]

Legacy

An unpublished autobiographical account mentions that he photographed "about sixty thousand sitters" during his career and he singles out those whom he considered to be the most illustrious: Queen Victoria and General Charles George Gordon.[10]

Thirteen Images attributed to Adams appear in photographic collections of the National Portrait Gallery,[9] Examples of the work undertaken by his son Marcus and grandson Gilbert Adams also appear in the National Portrait Gallery's collections, underscoring Walton's influence. Walton's work is also to seen in the photographic collection held at the Conway Library, Courtauld Institute of Art. This collection is currently in the process of being digitised as part of a wider project 'Courtauld Connects'.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Porter, Bernard (1994). Britannia's Burden: The Political Evolution of Modern Britain 1891-1950. London: Hodder Arnold. ISBN 9780340561973.
  2. 1 2 Posted by Michael Wong on November 24, 2010 at 13:39; Blog, View. "The Adams Family ..." britishphotohistory.ning.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 "Royal Photographer: The Late Mr Walton Adams". The Scotsman. 14 June 1934.
  4. 1 2 3 "Walton Adams business card 1886 to 1922". Reading Museum Collections. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  5. ↑ "Wiseman, Joseph". Southampton Victorian Photographers. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  6. ↑ "Adams and Stilliard". Southampton Victorian Photographers. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  7. ↑ "Adams, Walter/Walton". Southampton Victorian Photographers. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  8. ↑ "Maddox, Richard Leach". Southampton Victorian Photographers. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  9. 1 2 "Walton Adams - National Portrait Gallery".
  10. ↑ "[ Walton Adams, Victorian photographer.] Unpublished autograph biographical account, written in his nineties, describing his career as 'the oldest living British photographer', with reference to Queen Victoria, General Gordon and his son Marcus Adams | Richard Ford". www.richardfordmanuscripts.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  11. ↑ "Courtauld Connects". Courtauld Connects. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
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