Category Archives: Landscape Painter

Joseph Ropes

Daguerreotypes, Landscape Painter, Portrait Painter, , , , , ,

1841                Exchange Building, Portland, Maine.                                                                                1843                5½ Tremont Row, Boston, Massachusetts.                                                                      1843                Manning’s Building, Salem, Massachusetts.

Joseph Ropes was recorded in one notice, one advertisement and one biographical entry.  The announcement appeared in the Portland Transcript (Portland, Maine)[1] on August 14, 1841.

Daguerreotypes.   We have not before called the attention of our readers to the opportunity now afforded of obtaining a Portrait from life by means of the Daguerreotype.  Mr. Ropes has taken rooms for a brief period in the Exchange, where he attends to Photographic Miniature painting.  A sitting of from two to four minutes will give one a perfect likeness—a portrait of wonderful beauty and delicacy.  Our readers generally have doubtless heard of this surprising art, by which a faithful transcript of one’s features may be obtained, drawn by Nature’s own finger, and it is well worth their while to visit Rope’s Room and look over the different portraits taken in this way.  When Nature paints, she paints correctly and minutely.  One cannot help being astonished at the exquisite finish to be observed in these drawings.  Every minute figure of the dress—every thread even may be detected‑‑and so with the features—every line is completely shadowed forth.  Mr. R. is always happy to see his friends at his room—who have but to speak the word to obtain from him their counterparts.

The advertisement ran from July 3 to August 17, 1843 in the Salem Register (Salem, Massachusetts).  Beautiful Specimens of Photographic Miniatures.  May be seen at the room of the subscriber in Manning’s Building, 3d story.  He has been connected several months with the establishment of Southworth & Co., Prize Photographers, and is familiar with their process of taking and coloring pictures.  Those who wish for a Daguerreotype likeness in the most pleasing and popular style will do well to call.

Room open to visitors at all hours of the day.  J. Ropes.

The biographical entry is from The New-York Historical Society’s Directory of Artists in America 1564-1860.  Ropes, Joseph (1812-1885).  Landscape,. Miniature, and crayon artist and drawing teacher.  Born at Salem (Mass.)  In 1812, he did not seriously study painting until in his mid-thirties when he took lessons from John R. Smith and at the National Academy.  He exhibited at the academy in 1848.  From 1851-1865 he had a studio in Hartford (Conn.).  In 1865 he went abroad for eleven years; on his return he settled in Philadelphia.  He died in NYC in 1885.  Ropes was the author of Linear Prespective (1850) and Progressive Steps in Landscape Drawing (1853) [ ] French, Art and Artists in Connecticut, 79; Bolton, Miniature Painters; Cowdrey, NAD; Swan, BA; Hartford CD 1855; Tuckerman, Book of the Artists.

Joseph Ropes is recorded in A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.

[1] Transcribed from DagNews.

Richard Clague

Landscape Painter, Photographs, Portrait Painter, , ,

N. D.                Address Unknown, New Orleans, Louisiana.                                                                        N. D.                Address Unknown, Paris France.                                                                                  1857                Address Unknown, Africa.

Richard Clague was recorded in an announcement on September 17, 1857 in the Green-Mountain Freeman (Montpelier, Vermont).  African Explorations… October last, under the auspices of Mahommed Said, the present enlightened Viceroy of Egypt.  The expedition was planned by M. I’Escatrac de Lauture, a Frenchman, who was joined by sis of his own countrymen, four Austrian gentlemen, one Prussia, an Englishman, and one American, all of them men of scientific professions, or attainment.  The American was Mr. Clagne, of New Orleans, a photographic artist.

Richard Clague is not recorded in any of the photographic directories I have referenced.  In fact every reference I have checked only refers to his landscape/portrait painting.  According to The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artist in America 1564-1860 Clague was an artist, teacher and landscape painter, who is recorded as being in New Orleans in 1851.  A search of the New Orleans newspapers might shed more light on Clague’s photographic career.

Jefferson Beardsley

Landscape Painter, Photographs, Portrait Painter, , ,

Jefferson Beardsley (1833-1895) was recorded in an advertisement in the Ithaca Journal and Advertiser (Ithaca, New York) on September 15, 1858 and which ran until February 23, 1859.  His address is based on Moses Reeves’s advertisement 49 Owego Street, over T. C. Thompson’s Merchant Tailor’s store, Ithaca.

The Sun Still Shines!  “By their Works ye know them.”  I would respectfully announce to the citizens of Ithaca and surrounding country, that I have taken the rooms formerly occupied by M. Reeves, over T. C. Thompson’s and 2 doors west of Culver’s store, where I am prepared to take all kinds of Photographic Pictures in a superior manner.  I will take pictures of Invalids or Deceased Persons, at their residence, on the most reasonable terms and the shortest possible notice.  Portraits painted—miniature or life size—in oil and crayon, Views of residences, Draughting and pictures of every description painted to Order.

Another example of a painter doing photography.  After doing an internet search for Jefferson Beardsley.  I found out that he was a portrait and landscape painter and photographer, working into the 1880’s and possibly beyond.  He is listed in The New York Historical Society Dictionary of Artist in America, 1864-1860.  As a genre painter, Ithaca (N. Y.), exhibited at the National Academy in 1859.

A foot note Beardsley attended the American Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876 and evidently purchased photographs of French pornography, sometime after he returned home he was charged with a crime and stood trial after college student and young men came in contact with them, he was also accused of making copies.  At the end of the trial he was sentenced to six months of hard labor.[1]

[1] Zen And The Art Of Local History (edited by Carol Kammen, Bob Beatty) p. 103-110.