Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-13
Queens OF THE CAMERA.
fayorites Of tho PhotOgrapher-An Im-
men.e Trade In Actress Photos
grnphS-PattHs $4,000 Picture.

The portraits OF actresses have become
one OF the most profitable and Lucrative
features OF some photographers business.
1t IS curious that those photographers
who were too high-toned and independ-
ent to have anything to do with the stage
have mainly gone to the wall, while those
who have catered to the stage have inva-
rlably made fortunes. Among these are
Sarony, Mora, Anderson and Dana. The
latter has been comparatively recently es-
tablished, and lie has done well by stage
poftraitures. Sarony is, however, the
most eminent and the best known man in
his line i'll New York. To the merely
mechanical part Of photography he unites
high artistic ideal, and his work in wa
tor-color. oil and charcoal is Of high de-
gree
The average man has little idea to what
an enormous extent the photograph busi-
ness is carried. For some years Ameri-
can photographs have been ahead OF any
others. This is due in great part to the
tineness of our atmosphere, and it is why
foreign actresses who come here usually
adopt their photographs taken here in
preference to all others.
Years ago, when Gurney and Freder-
icks were the crack photographers of New
York, ladies' and gentlemen Of the stage
used to pay for their photographs at what
is known as professional rates" But
that is all changed now. In some unu-
sual cases the photographer pays in place
of being paid, and in spite of stiff prices
at times, he often makes large sums of
money by this class of custom.
When Patti arrived here two seasons
ago there was an excited competition
among the principal photographers to get
her to sit. Sarouy made the largest bid
50, ,OO0-for two sittings of an hour
each. He paid the money down to her
agent, NJ. Franchi, and Patti sat, being
taken in some twenty or twenty-five posi-
tons. OF all the negatives taken only
one suited the prima donna. Sarony de-
sired to use several of the others which
he considered good, but she was obdu-
rate. ''rhe fact is, said Sarony, "that
Patti is no longer as young as she was,
but she wants to look as well in her pic
lures. In painting or engravings it is
quite possible to make ideal pictures, but
photographers willreproluce life rs it is"
The result was, at any rate that Patti
strictly confined him to the one negative.
1t is the side face with the black bonnet,
now quite familiar in programmes and en-
cravings. He endeavored to get her to
sit again, but she always alleged previous
engagements, and the single photograph
| have named cost Sarony the 5000.
This speculation did not pay him, and
the most remarkable part of it was that
tie demand was greater for Nicolini's
photographs than for PATHS, and it Is the
most difficult thing in the world to get the
tenor to sit. He prefers to rest on his
pictures of twenty years ago and appear
forever young.
The photographers must take the good
with the bad, like any other tradesmen.
ircres for the Langtrv. She naturally
ious to see faithful portrait of this
much -talked-of lady. The price paid her
was 5000, and she was taken in some
twenty positions, all of which suited her.
She made no objection to any of them.
Thousands upon thousands were turned
ont Of the work-rooms OF the lucky pho
tographer, and it is not too much to say
that the sale represented the met profit of
$4,000 over and above all expenses.
They are still selling rapidly, and have
probably found place in hundreds of
private collections.
least, outsold even Langtry-an insight
iicant looking woman enough, with no
talent to speak OF and II marvellous apti-
tude Of looking well pictured in any posi-
ton. This was the great photograph ac
tress, Maule Brauscombe. Hundreds of
thousands have seen her photographs
who barely heard of her and never wit
messed her acting. 1t is estimated that
the enormous number OF 800, 900 of her
pictures have been sold in the past six
years. While photographers everywhere
were making fortunes out of her singu-
larly attractive Photographic beauty, she
was, it is said, poor, and at times next
door to actual want. Then the idea
struck her husband, Mr.. Everard Stuart,
to turn her popularity to account, and
since then he has received regular roy
atty on the sale Of her pictures. Sine is
now in England, and has been for some
time, but her portraits continue to sell
about as well as ever.
Mrs Alice Dunning Lingard is hand
some woman, whose photograph always
commands ready sale. Her photo
graphic favors seem to have been con-
fined to San Francisco principally. She
poses very beautifully, aud the camera
tatters her There are some ladies of the
stage, on the other hand, who, though
good-looking, never appear to be done
justice to in their photographs. OF all
the pictures the willowy Sara Jewett has
had taken-and she is fond of photograph
galleries-only one ever did her justice.
1t was side face, and makes her look
womanly and Intellectual rare combi-
nation. Miss Coghlan is taken no longer,
but she used to be the favorite of the
photographer. Mrs. Agnes Booth thinks
a fair woman does not make very good
picture, while Miss Emil Leslie, recent
acquisition to the Madison Square Thea
tre, takes very well. Miss Alta Norman
IA very handsome woman--does not run
to photography mach, but those she had
taken by Sarony are very fine.
Ii is Il part OF some managers contracts
that they shall have n Photographic mon
opoly of the people III their company.
This il done to secure uniformity and
make the Photographic advertisements OF
a play more effective. But, as a rule, ac-
tresses go where they please to be pic
tured.
Among men of recent years W. Il.
Carleton, the baritone, has outpld all
other males of the profession. He is q
handsome fellow anyway, and that he is 4
genius at makeup and wardrobe, nothing
more effective can be seen in photography
than his picture i'll Claude Duval. Bar
rett does not sell well. Booth is poor
Mccullough surpasses both together. o.
course, II. j. Montague when he wa,
alive, outsold everybody, even the wo
men, and it is fair to suppose that womeI
We're his purchasers.
Recently there has grow up big trade
in American photographs in England
, The Anthonys export an enormous mum
Der, and they sell better than the Eng
lish article there. 1t is said that in tn,
past two years $4,000 picture of Mar,
, Anderson have been sold in London. Nov
, that she has gone there to play, it is fai
E to suppose this sale will further i'll