Category Archives: Portrait Painter

Ambrose Andrews

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , , ,

1852-1853       122 Canal, New York, New York.

Ambrose Andrews was listed or not listed in the New York City Directories, Vose Archives, and The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary Of Artists in America 1564-1860.  The first directory I looked at was the1849-1850 Doggett’s New York City Directory where Ambrose Andrews, is listed as a Portrait Painter, at 25 Lispenard.

The second was the 1850-1851 Doggett’s New York City Directory.  Where he was not listed in directory.

The third directory was the 1851-1852 Doggett’s & Rode New York City Directory where he is listed as an artist, at 122 Canal.

The fourth directory was the 1852-1853 Wilson & Trow New York City Directory where he is listed as a daguerreotypes, at 122 Canal.

The fifth directory was the 1853-1854 Wilson & Trow New York City Directory where he is listed as a daguerreotypes, at 122 Canal.

The sixth directory was the 1854-1855 Wilson & Trow New York City Directory where he was not listed in directory.

The Vose Archives, Boston, Massachusetts was at the time an unpublished database that Seth Vose shared with me in 1994.

Andrews, Ambrose (born West Stockbridge, MA 19 July 1801—died probably E. Palmyra, NY ca 1877).

Subject:  portrait, miniature, landscape. 

Media:  oil, water color.

Studied:  American Acad. of Fine Arts, NYC Oct-Nov. 1824, New York Drawing Assoc. NYC 1825; NAD, NYC 1826.

Worked:  West Stockbridge, Ma c. 1820-25, c 1833-36; Schuylerville, NY 1824; NYC 1825-26; 1848-62; Pa. 1827; Troy, NY 1829-31; Middletown, CT 1835; New Haven, CT 1837; Houston, TX 1837-41; New Orleans, LA 1841-42, 1844; Cincinnati, OH 1843; St. Louis, MO 1844-48; E. Palmyra, NY 1869-c 1877.

Active:  1824-c. 1877

Comments…In NYC during 1850’s did daguerreotyping and colored photographs.

Ambrose Andrews is not recorded in other photographic directories.

Henry Willard

Portrait Painter, , , , , , ,

Ca. 1855          Address Unknown, Boston, Massachusetts

1855                Pennsylvania Avenue, between 4½ and 6th Streets, Washington, D. C.

Henry Willard was recorded in two announcements in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.).  The first appeared on December 18, 1855.  Henry Willard, a Boston artist of great merit, has taken a studio in the same building with Whitehurst’s Daguerreotype establishment, where he is painting the portraits of several of our distinguished men.

The second announcement appeared on December 22, 1855.  Fine Arts.—Visiting several studios this morning, we found the artists busy at their easels, apparently well content with the patronage they are receiving from an appreciating public…  Henry Willard, in the building with Vannerson, was at work on a portrait, in oils, of the Hon. Mr. De Witt, of Mass….

The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564–1860 list Henry Willard as a portrait, miniature and genre painter of Boston, active from about 1833.

Henry Willard is not recorded in other photographic directories.  Craig’s Daguerrean Registry does record a William Willard as an artist at 5½ Tremont Row.  Both Henry and William are recorded in The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564–1860. William  as a portrait painter active in Boston in the 1850’s and Henry as a portrait, miniature, and genre painter.  It is unknown what arrangements Henry had with Whitehurst or Vannerson if he was just using the gallery space as professional courtesy or if money exchanged hands or if Henry colored or painted photographs.  In the case of William it is unknow if he work for Southworth & Hawes or had his own space in the building.

William Tinsley

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , ,

1849                Room over G. D. Wells, Drug Store, Penn Pan, New York.

William Tinsley was recorded in one advertisement that ran from May 15 to July 3, 1849 in the Penn Yan Democrat (Penn-Yan, New York).  Portrait Painter & Daguerrean.  Respectfully inform the citizens of Penn Yan and vicinity, that he has opened Rooms for the practice of the above Arts.

He has been successful in procuring Optical instruments of the finest workmanship, possessing powers superior to anything that has yet appeared in this region, and equal to anything that ever may come into competition.  By which he flatters himself he shall be able to produce works of the most minute fidelity, varying in size from 4 inches to the smallest locket or finger-ring.

Operating room over the Drug store of G. D. Wells.  Penn-Yan, May 8, 1849.

William Tinsley is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in 1850-1851 in Penn Pan, New York without a business address.  Tinsley is recorded in The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564-1860 as a portrait painter in Albany, New York in 1852.

F. Taenzer

Photographs, Portrait Painter, , ,

1858-1859       Union Hotel, Ball Room, Clinton, Louisiana.

F. Taenzer was recorded in One advertisement and one announcement in The Feliciana Democrat (Clinton, Louisiana).  The advertisement ran from September 18, 1858 to January 1, 1859.  Photograph & Oil Painting.  Union Hotel Ball Room.  Having Located in the Town of Clinton, for the purpose of executing all orders in the above art, the subscriber respectfully solicits a share of the public patronage.  Portraits taken by the photographic process, or painted upon canvass, of any size or proportion, from life, or faithfully copied and enlarged from Daguerreotypes, or other pictures.

Buildings, landscapes, military or civic companies, photographed at reasonable rates.

The public generally, are invited to call at his room, at the Union Hotel Ball Room, and examine specimens of his art.  sept. 11.  F. Taenzer.

The announcement ran on November 13, 1858.  Tanezer’s Photograph Gallery.—To those who desire a perfect likeness of themselves, their families, or a copy of a daguerreotype or ambrotype of a deceased relative or friend, we would especially recommend to call on M. Taenzer, in the rooms adjoining White’s Hotel.  They will there have evidence of his ability as an artist; and will be able to procure from him as finished a picture as could be desired.  It is the first time that our citizens have had  the opportunity of procuring the services of such an artist, and as it is not likely such a chance will again present itself they should avail themselves of his stay in our town to procure life-like portraits.  Give him a call, at his rooms east of White’s hotel.  His charges are moderate as his pictures are excellent.

F. Taenzer is not recorded in other photographic directories.

A. Schuster

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , ,

1853                494 Broadway, New York, New York.

A. Schuster was recorded in one advertisement on December 4, 1853 in The New York Herald  (New York, New York).  Portraits In Pastel And Miniature, After nature, and daguerreotypes executed, and perfect resemblances warranted, by A. Schuster, Portrait Painter, 494 Broadway, Specimens ready for show at his studio.

A. Schuster is not recorded in other photographic directories.  Arnauld Schuster or Shuster is listed in The New-York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artist In America 1584-1860.  Portrait painter at NYC in 1852, formerly a student at the Munich Academy.

F. Sancan

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , , , ,

1853-1854       80 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.                                                                        1854                   Rooms over Badeaux & Bruff, corner Main & Focus Streets, Thibodaux,                                             Louisiana.

F. Sancan was recorded in two advertisement and one announcement in the Thibodaux Minerva.  (Thibodaux, Louisiana).  The first advertisement ran from June 11, 1853 to June 1, 1854. Sache & Sancan, Daguerreotype and Painting Gallery, No. 80 Camp St., New Orleans.  my14.

The announcement appeared on March 11, 1854.  Don’t forget to call on Mr. Sancan, and obtain one of his Daguerreotypes by an entire new process.  See his card.

The second advertisement ran from March 11 to July 22, 1854. Daguerreotype Saloon.  Mr. F. Sancan, has the honor to inform the citizens of Thibodaux and vicinity, that he has opened a Daguerrean Saloon, over the store of Messrs. Badeaux & Bruff, corner of Main and Focus streets, where he will be happy to wait upon those who may honor him with a call.

By an entire new process—one yet little known—he not only gives his pictures a true likeness in features, but also in complexion.  This process has also another advantage in doing away in a partial degree the looking-glass appearance of the ground work.

F. Sancan is not listed in other photographic directories.  See Sache & Sancan post.

Sache & Sancan

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , ,

1853-1854       80 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sache & Sancan (F. Sancan) were recorded in one advertisement that ran from June 11, 1853 to June 1, 1854 in the Thibodaux Minerva (Thibodaux, Louisiana).  Sache & Sancan, Daguerreotype and Painting Gallery, No. 80 Camp St., New Orleans.  my14.

This is a complicated entry.  First in the book Photography in New Orleans The Early Years, 1840-1865 and in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry both list a Victor Sancan as being active in New Orleans in 1854 at 80 Camp Street.  Sache is not listed in either books.  In the New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564 to 1860 a J. Sancan is listed in New Orleans in 1854 as a portrait painter.  There is no mention of F. or Victor Sancan, again there is no listing found for Sache, there were a number of  Sachs and Sachse all were from Philadelphia and Baltimore and were either lithographers, or painters with no mention of anyone traveling to New Orleans.  To further complicate matters there is an advertisements from the same newspaper “Thibodaux Minerva” for an F. Sancan which will be posted on December 3d.  Another possibility is that Victor Sancan owner/operator of the New Orleans studio and that F. Sancan (a family member, working in the studio went to Thibodaux for four plus months.)  This is total speculation on my part.  An internet search listed an  F. Sancan in 1861 as the Editor and Proprietor of the Thibodaux Sentinel a weekly newspaper.  It is unknown if they are the same person.  Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865 comes to the same conclusion that it is unclear if one of the partners were F. Sancan or Victor Sancan.

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.

Alexander Ransom

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , , ,

1853                Mr. Ransom’s Rooms New York University, New York, New York.

Alexander Ransom was recorded in one announcement and one advertisement in The New York Herald (New York, New York).  The announcement appeared on December 13, 1853.  Mr. Freeman Having Purchased of Mr. Alexander Ransom the half of his property in the Drummond Light apparatus for enlarging daguerreotypes, will be prepared every day, between the hours of two and three o’clock P. M., to show any respectable parties, the effects of Daguerreotypes so enlarged, through which a perfect drawing is traced upon the reflection itself, from the cabinet to the size of life, or even larger, with the unerring certainty, in a comparatively short space of time.  Those having daguerreotypes of friends, will please bring them to determine their real value when magnified and thrown upon another surface, thereby avoiding all the disagreeable effects of the reflex of a polished plate, and withal of a hundred per cent increase of resemblance to their originals.  Outline for artists reasonably made.  Rooms No. 1, third floor, N. Y. University, Washington parade ground.

The advertisement ran from December 17 to 19, 1853.  Portraits Painted From Daguerreotypes.—Persons having daguerreotypes of deceased or absent  friends, can see the magnified to the size of life by a powerful Drummond light apparatus free at Mr. Ransom’s rooms, New York University, every day from 2 to 3 o’clock, P. M.

Alexander Ransom does not appear in other photographic directories.  He is recorded as a portrait painter in The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists in America 1564 – 1860 as being active in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts, New York City and London, England.

S. W. Price

Colorist, Portrait Painter, , , ,

1857                Between Main and Franklin Streets, Clarksville, Tennessee.

S. W. Price is recorded in two announcements in the Clarksville Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee). The first announcement appeared on November 20, 1857. We are pleased to see that our clever friend and accomplished artist, Mr. S. W. Price, has returned to our city, to remain a short time.  We are shown a specimen of his skill, in the way of coloring upon the Photograph likeness of our Editor.  It is certainly a fine specimen of art.

If, with McCormac to take the picture, and Price to do the coloring, our senior’s face is not well taken, then there is no use in any one else trying.  In our opinion, this Photograph cannot be surpassed.

The second announcement appeared on May 21, 1858.  Mr. Price is again in our midst Mr. Price is a painter of decided merit, and if evidence of that fact were wanting, his picture of that fact were wanting, his picture of Mr. Fillmore is sufficient to place the matter beyond a doubt.  Mr. Price is also a high-toned and honorable gentleman, and we bespeak for him a liberal share of patronage.  We presume he will resume his employment as colorer of Photographers for Mr. W. J. McCormac.  Success attend them both.

S. W. Price is not recorded in other photographic directories. There is a possibility that this is Samuel Woodson Price a portrait and figure painter who was active in Kentucky and Tennessee prior to the Civil War.