Lawton, Joseph, fl. 1864-1874 (photographer)
Dates
- Existence: fl. 1864 - 1874
Biography
Joseph Lawton was employed by H.C. Byrde and Sons (merchants) circa 1864. From circa 1866 he was a photographer at 1 Castle Hill Street, Kandy. He photographed the ruins of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiria for the Committee on Ancient Architecture in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) 1870-1871. He ceased photographing circa 1872. He returned to England due to ill-health and had died by 1874.
The firm continued after Lawton's death and was managed by his wife, Helen, at 1 New Road, Kandy (there was also a millinery establishment at 12 New Road). The firm was advertising as a chemists and druggists in 1876 but it still continued to sell Lawton's photographs.
Circa 1876 to 1881 the business was continued by C. Robertson from 11 Ward Street, Kandy. The firm was taken over by R. Charter by 1885. The archaeological negatives were dispersed at some stage before 1915.
Circa 1871 Lawton also employed: W.C. Webster, A.W. Grigson, J. Simpson.
Publications:
Ceylon, Ruins of Pollanarua etc.
Ceylon, Ruins of Anuradhapura etc.
[Albums of photographs with printed overlay titles, produced in connection with archaeological work circa 1872, probably only two or three printed].
Chromolithograph from photograph by Lawton used as frontispiece to:
Capper, John (1871), 'The Duke of Edinburgh in Ceylon : a book of elephant and elk sport'. London : Provost.
Sources:
Archaeological Survey of Ceylon Annual Report 1911-1912.
Falconer, John (1981), 'Nineteenth century photography in Ceylon'. 'The Photographic Collector'. Summer 1981, pp.39-54.
Ferguson's Ceylon almanacs.
Survey Department Annual Report for 1871.
Report on the Public Works Department for 1870.
Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:
Audience Hall, Pollannaruwa, 8th century seat of Government, 1870 - 1871
287 x 225 mm. Showing a clearing in the overgrown ruins of Polonnaruwa, with the square columns of the Audience Hall standing at the top of a small knoll.
Dalada Maligawa at Polonnaruwa 700AD, 1870 - 1871
282 x 214 mm. Close up view of the intricate stonework of the wall of the Dalada Maligawa, the shrine of the sacred tooth.
[Entrance to the Gallery, Sigirya], 1870 - 1871
227 x 291 mm. Showing the entrance at the base of the rock, of the walled pathway to the summit.
Full length figure of Buddha, solid rock, 46 ft long, Pollanaruwa, 1870 - 1871
289 x 224 mm. Showing the massive reclining Buddha at the Gal Wihare, Pollanaruwa.
General view from N.E. of Audience Hall overlooking the Tupawewa [Thuparama], Pollannaruwa, 1870 - 1871
283 x 213 mm. View looking towards the crest of a small hill where the remaining columns of the Audience Hall stand among the trees.
Minneria Lake, 1870 - 1871
289 x 227 mm. View looking across the lake, with a small island in the distance. Situated 40 miles SE of Anuradhapura, the lake of Minneriya forms the remains of an artificial tank created by Maha Sen in A.D. 275.
Moonstone at bottom of steps leading to Maha Sen’s Palace, Anuradhapura, 1600 years old. Palace built 200 B.C. by King Dutugamunu [Dutthagamini], 1870 - 1871
289 x 222 mm. View looking down on the moonstone which stands at the base of the flight of steps leading into the central building of Maha Sen’s Pavilions (which were probably put to religious use rather than secular occupation). The moonstone, a large semi-circular stone plate placed at the base of flights of steps, is an architectural component practically unique to Ceylon and this example is probably the finest that survives.
Seated figure of Buddha at Pollannaruwa, 1870 - 1871
288 x 224 mm. View of a seated figure of Buddha carved from rock face at Pollannaruwa, with a European figure reclining in the statue’s lap as an indication of scale.
The Gal Wihare, or Rock Temple. Rock cut figure of Buddha in Cella of temple, 4ft 7ins high on pedestal 5ft 5 ins long, 3 ft 1 inch high; the chamber containing this figure is cut in solid rock, Pollanaruwa, 1870 - 1871
225 x 285 mm.
The Jeta Wanorama [Jetawanarama] East Front, with distant view [of] Kiri Dagoba, Pollannaruwa, 1870 - 1871
280 x 220 mm. View looking towards the ruins of the Jetawanarama Temple at Polonnaruwa, a massive red brick structure originally plastered with chunam. The view seen here shows the remains of the entrance between the two polygonal turrets. The Kiri Vihara Dagoba is in the background to the right.
The Watu-taga [Wata-da-ge], steps at eastern entrance, Polannaruwa, 1870 - 1871
291 x 229 mm. View showing the stone steps leading in to the Wata-da-ge or circular relic house, with broken sanctuary and carving in the foreground.
[Unidentified carved stone friezes, probably part of the Mirisweti Dagoba, Anuradhapura], 1870 - 1871
283 x 214 mm. Showing partially covered blocks of stone, carved with a running frieze of elephants and other animals. This probably comes from part of the structure of the Mirisweti Dagoba.