Details

Name

Lafayette

Brief Biography

1880 - 1898, Irish/British

Occupation

Photographer

Description

The Lafayette studio has one of the oldest histories of any photographic business in the world. It was founded in Dublin in 1880 by James Stack Lauder, who used the professional name of James Lafayette. James was the eldest son of Edmund Lauder , a pioneering and successful photographer who had opened a daguerreotype studio in Dublin in 1853. In adopting the name 'Lafayette', James created a new image for the family business, seeking to prosper from the cachet of a French name. The new business soon established itself as the premier portrait studio in Ireland following commissions from the Viceroy and leading members of the Irish aristocracy. James Lafayette was 27 when he founded the new firm, he was joined by his three brothers, all of whom were experienced photographers who had worked in their father's three studios. James Lafayette started to attract favourable reviews in newspapers and photographic journals. He also began to win exhibition medals for his portraits of society beauties, actresses and children not only in Ireland, but England, France and America. In 1884 he was elected a member of the Photographic Society of Great Britain. By 1885 the firm was registering some of its best work for copyright, and had attracted the attention of the Royal family with its best-selling portraits of Princess Alexandra. In 1887 James Lafayette was invited to Windsor to photograph Queen Victoria and was granted a Royal Warrant as 'Her Majesty's Photographer in Dublin'. This Royal Warrant, which was subsequently renewed by King Edward VII and George V, conferred enormous prestige. The Lafayette business expanded rapidly in the 1890s. Studios were established in Glasgow (1890), Manchester (1892) Bond Street, London (1897) and another studio was established in Belfast (1900). In 1898 all the Lauder family businesses were incorporated, establishing Lafayette Ltd.