Henderson, Alexander, 1831-1913 (photographer)
Dates
- Existence: 1831 - 1913
Biography
Alexander Henderson was born in Scotland on July 9th 1831. He was part of a wealthy Scottish family. His father, Thomas Henderson, was a successful nurseryman and seed merchant. His grandfather, Alexander Henderson Senior, was the first chairman of the National Bank of Scotland and had been lord provost of Edinburgh. The family had extensive landholdings. Henderson was educated at Murcheston Academy and at Rugby School. In 1849 he was apprenticed to be an accountant. Henderson married Agnes Elder Robertson in 1855 and, shortly afterwards, they emigrated to Canada. They settled in Montreal and from 1859 to 1863 Henderson worked as a commission merchant (Cook 1998, p.477).
Henderson took up photography as a hobby circa 1857 (Turner 1996, p.385). He was first recorded as an amateur photographer and member for North America of the Stereoscopic Exchange Club in 'Photographic News', September 9th 1859 (Greenhill and Birrell 1979, p.51). As an amateur, he published his first major collection of landscapes - 'Canadian views and studies by an amateur' (also known as 'Photographic views and studies of Canadian scenery') (Cook 1998, p.477). He was working as a professional photographer by 1866, taking portraits and landscapes, with a studio at 10 Phillips Square, Montreal. In 1874 he moved his studio to 237 St James Street. However, this relocation was only to be for a short time as in 1876 he moved again to 387 Notre Dame.
Henderson was particularly noted for his landscape photography (Turner 1996, p.385). He photographed the major cities of Quebec and Ontario but was also fond of the wilderness. In 1872 Henderson photographed construction projects on the Intercolonial Railway and was commissioned in 1875 to photograph structures on the almost complete Montreal Maritimes Line. He undertook a number of Railway projects and in 1892 he became Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway Photographic Department. Henderson retired 1897 (Cook 1998, p.477).
Henderson was friends with William Notman. In 1860 they travelled to the Niagara Falls. They also worked together on experiments with magnesium flares and were both founding members of the Art Association of Montreal (Cook 1998, pp.477-478). Henderson died on April 4th 1913.
Publications:
Henderson issued a number albums entitled 'Canadian views and studies, Photographed from Nature'.
Sources:
Cook, Ramsay ed. (1998), 'Dictionary of Canadian Biography'. Volume XIV - '1911-1920'. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Greenhill, Ralph and Birrell, Andrew (1979), 'Canadian photography, 1839-1920'. Toronto: Coach House Press.
Turner, Jane ed. (1996), 'The dictionary of art'. Volume 14. New York: Grove.
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Current St. Mary at Isle Ronde 24.4.1875, 1875
Ice Shove, City Hall [Montreal], 1870 - 1875
205 x 149 mm. A view from the St Lawrence River looking towards the City Hall, the Church of Notre Dame de Bonsecours and the Bonsecours Wharf. In the foreground are the huge mounds of breaking ice which pile up at the side of the river during the thaw.
In Belmont Street [Montreal], 1870 - 1875
209 x 152 mm. A winter scene in Belmont Street looking along a path cut through the snow with domestic residences in the background. Print signed ‘Henderson’.
In Mount Royal Park. Hoar Frost, 1870 - 1879
335 x 263 mm. Showing a woodland scene in Mount Royal Park in winter, with snow on the ground and hoar frost on the trees. In the centre foreground stands an empty horse sleigh. Print signed ‘Henderson’.
Montreal fm. Mountain [18]75, 1875
341 x 266 mm. A view from Mount Royal looking eastwards over the city towards the St. Lawrence River and the Victoria Bridge in the distance. The twin towers of the church of Notre Dame can be seen in the centre of the print near the river, while in the foreground is the frozen-over MacTavish Reservoir (built 1864), dominated by the square of Ravenscrag, built in 1862 as the home of Sir Hugh Allen (1810-82), reputed to be the richest man in Canada. Print signed ‘Alexander Henderson’.
Quebec fm Levis Winter, 1870 - 1879
339 x 247 mm. A view looking across the Saint Lawrence from Levis towards the western bank of the river. Dominating the skyline on the far side is the Citadel, with Dufferin Terrace and other city buildings to its right. The Chateau Frontenac, nowadays a prominent landmark beside the Citadel, has not yet been built. In the foreground large blocks of ice litter the river bank. Print signed ‘Henderson’.
Tobogganing, 1870 - 1875
202 x 157 mm. A skilful composite photograph of three people going downhill on a toboggan. The three would have been photographed in the studio and the picture superimposed on the woodland scene. The joins can be seen around the figures on careful inspection. Print signed ‘A. Henderson’.
Train in Snow, 1869
192 x 115 mm. Showing four engines, the leader fitted with a snowplough, moving through a thick bank of snow. Print signed ‘A. Henderson’. ‘Towards C.N.’, (National Archives of Canada, 1972), identified the train as a Grand Trunk Railway locomotive near Quebec in February 1869.