Bassano, Alexander, 1829 -1913 (photographer)

Person

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1829 - 1913

Biography

Alexander Bassano was a commercial photographer based in London. His studio was originally founded in Regent Street in 1850. According to Pritchard, the studio then moved to Piccadilly 1859-1863, to Pall Mall and then to 25 Old Bond Street in 1877 (1994, p.34). Pritchard also states that Bassano had studios at: 122 Regent Street 1862-76; 72 Piccadilly 1870-81; 25 Old Bond Street 1878-1903; 182 Oxford Street 1889; 42 Pall Mall 1891-92; 18 Alpha Road 1892-96. There was also a company named 'Bassano and Davis' at 122 Regent Street in 1866, a firm named Bassano Limited at 25 Old Bond Street from 1906 and a Bassano's Studio's Ltd at 25 Old Bond Street 1904-05 (Pritchard 1994, pp.34-35). The National Portrait Gallery states that the Bassano's firm was based at 25 Old Bond Street 1876-1921 (2004).

Bassano was a popular society photographer. He was responsible for the image of Lord Kitchener's head on the First World War recruiting poster 'Your Country Needs You' (National Portrait Gallery 2004).

Bassano retired circa 1903. The studio was refurbished and relaunched as Bassano Ltd, Royal Photographers (National Portrait Gallery 2004). In 1964 the company became Bassano and Vandyck Studio. In 1965 it incorporated Elliott and Fry. In 1977 it became Industrial Photographic (Pritchard 1994, p.34).

Sources:

Pritchard, Michael (1994), 'A directory of London photographers 1841-1908'. Watford: PhotoResearch.

National Portrait Gallery (2004), 'Alexander Bassano (1829-1913)'.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Item

Cetshwayo ka Mpande, 1882

Item

Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3058F/2

Scope and Contents 96 x 142 mm. A head and shoulders portrait by Alexander Bassano of 25 Old Bond Street, showing Cetshwayo dressed in European clothes; a photograph taken during his visit to England in 1882. Cetshwayo (c. 1826-1884) was a son of Mpanda and a nephew of Shaka. As a commander he had distinguished himself during the Zulu campaign against the Swazis in 1853-54 and after struggles with his relatives became the de facto King of Zululand from around 1857, although he did not formally accede to the...

Dates: 1882

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Found in: Cambridge University Library / Portraits of Bishop John Colenso and Cetshwayo ka Mpande

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Subject: England (country) X