Portrait of a bearded man by M. W. Greenfeld (1872-1877) : 無料・フリー素材/写真
Portrait of a bearded man by M. W. Greenfeld (1872-1877) / pellethepoet
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示 2.1 |
|---|---|
| 説明 | Carte de visite.Studio of Maximilian William Greenfeld, Photographer, Artist in Oil - Water Colors, & Crayons, The Royal Studio, 328, George Street, Sydney.Found in a junk shop in Darlinghurst, Sydney.I can find no reference to the German-born Australian photographer M. W. Greenfeld (1843-1906) in my many books on Australian Photography, but a thorough search of old newspapers reveals him to have been a very prominent and respected photographer, and a multi-talented individual - not only a portrait photographer, but a painter and violinist too. A true Renaissance man.We first encounter the name of Greenfeld in the programme of a fundraising concert to assist in the purchase of instruments for the Volunteer Artillery Brigade Band. 28 August 1872: "Solo Violin. Mr. M. W. GREENFELD (Amateur)" [Trove, 2nd column, top]. Alas, it turned out he was not able to take part in the performance. 31 August 1872: "Mr. Greenfeld having met with an accident to his left hand was unable to perform the violin solo allotted to him in the programme" [Trove, 3rd paragraph].A year later he is advertising for an assistant, and is based at the address where this delightful photo of a bearded gentleman was taken. 11 August 1873: "PHOTOGRAPHY. - Wanted, young Man, as Assistant PRINTER. Mr. Greenfeld, 328, George-street" [Trove, 4th column, bottom]. The following year, in May 1874, he exhibited photographs and crayon paintings at the 6th annual exhibition of the Agricultural Society of NSW [Trove, 2nd column, halfway down]. A year later again he won an Intercolonial Exhibition award for his work, alongside our old friend B. C. Boake. 12 April 1875: "Portrait in oils, M. W. Greenfeld; ... cabinet portrait, Mr. B. C. Boake" [Trove, 1st column, 3rd paragraph].In 1877 he opened a new studio, and during the hiatus between the move he was being missed by his clientele. 25 September 1877: "MR. GREENFELD, Photographer, - When will you open your New Studio? We want the Children's Portraits taken. J. THOMPSON." [Trove, 4th column, near top]. Greenfeld replied the following day. 26 September 1877: "J. THOMSON. - Mr. GREENFELD'S STUDIO of PHOTOGRAPHY will open on the 1st of October, at 434 George-street, over Fletcher's boot shop, three doors from Royal Hotel. The new Studio has been built on the latest American principles, giving extreme softness of light, and he will be most happy after the above date, to Photograph the Children by the new instantaneous process. No further connection with the old place after the 1st of October." [Trove, 2nd column, top]. Public notices announcing the opening of his new larger premises were made throughout October 1877, sometimes referring to his new studio as the "AMERICAN STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY" [Trove, 4th column, halfway down], and at other times the "SAN FRANSISCO STUDIO" [Trove, 3rd column, upper half].The following year, Greenfeld was seeking a boy to work in the studio. 14 May 1878: "PHOTOGRAPHY - Smart BOY wanted, about 14. Greenfeld, photographer, 434, George-street." [Trove, 2nd column, lower half]. Several months later he was looking for another boy, but this time the prerequisite of being "smart" was apparently no longer deemed necessary. 9 September 1878: "WANTED, BOY, about 13. Apply, 10 o'clock, Greenfeld, photographer, 434, George-street." [Trove, 3rd column, halfway down]. By December he was looking for ... you guessed it, another boy! 30 December 1878: "WANTED, a BOY, about 14. Greenfeld's, 434, George-street." [Trove, 3rd column, lower half].But seeking boys wasn't Greenfeld's only activity in 1878. His work was exhibited alongside other prominent photographers in the New South Wales Court of the Exposition Universelle. 27 July 1878: "... photographs by Newman Brothers, Greenfeld, Boake and Lindt, that will bear comparison with the sun pictures of Disderi of Paris, of Sarony of New York, of Luckhart of Vienna, of Vergamasco of St. Petersburg, of Abdallah Freres of Constantinople, or of Gutekunst of Philadelphia." [Trove, 1st column, beneath illustration of the New South Wales Court at the Paris Exhibition].In December 1878, Greenfeld was promoting an instrument he had imported from Paris as a boon for nervous sitters. He visited the offices of newspapers and demonstrated the device to journalists. 4 December 1878: "Mr. GREENFELD, photographer, of George-street, brought to our office yesterday a peculiar little instrument which he imported from Paris, and by which he is enabled to take photographs without the sitter being aware of the actual time when the picture is taken. Mons. Cadet, of Paris, is the inventor of this little instrument, which may be fixed on to any lens. It works on pneumatic principles. The operator merely presses an air-ball, and the instrument is set going." [Trove, 2nd column, 5th paragraph]. The Ladies' Column of the Australian Town and Country Journal on 28 December 1878 thought this would be "pleasurable information to nervous women" who would ordinarily "as soon have a tooth extracted as a portrait taken" [Trove].We next encounter Greenfeld in Western Australia, at the Perth International Exhibition, where he established a studio for the duration. 30 November 1881: "Mr. Greenfeld, the artist, opposite the Town Hall, has in the Exhibition two frames of photographs of children and adults which are executed in his usual excellent style; he has also several oil paintings hung over the Swiss Court, which are painted by hand, among which may specially be seen the portrait of Mons. Joubert, marvellously true to life. We have heard that this gentleman, apart from being an artist is also a distinguished performer on the violin, and that it is his intention shortly to give an amateur concert in the city by invitation only to his patrons. We hear that several leading amateurs have signified their intention of taking part in this gratuitous and very liberal treat of Mr. Greenfeld's." [Trove, 1st column, lower part]. Excitement continued to build in early 1882 about the forthcoming concert at St. George's Hall, in which the visiting photographer would demonstrate his virtuosity of the violin. 27 Jan 1882: "At the concert on the 3rd proximo, instead of the showy music of the 'twiddle-dee' character to which we are two [sic] much accustomed, Mr. Greenfeld will play ... charming chamber music of Beethoven's, and other compositions really worth hearing." [Trove, 2nd paragraph]. 08 Feb 1882: "MR. GREENFELD'S CONCERT. About three months ago a stranger came in our midst, and, with the unpretending diffidence peculiar to his race - for he is a German - so far as his musical talents were concerned, be kept in the back ground. Almost by accident it became known that Mr. Greenfeld was a skilled musician, and master of the King of Instruments - the violin. ... It was evident after the first few bars had been played that the performer was a skilled musician and that success was certain. ... The last number on the programme was a violin solo by Mr. Greenfeld, consisting of a fantasia on Lucia di Lammermoor, arranged by Singelee. The piece was played throughout with finish, taste, and style, and Mr. Greenfeld was at once proclaimed a worthy priest of the temple of the lyric muse." [Trove].In May 1882, Greenfeld visited Western Australia for a second time, this time establishing a temporary studio in Geraldton. 24 May 1882: "Our friends in Geraldton desirous of "Securing the shadow ere the substance fade" will shortly have unusual opportunities in this respect. Mr. Greenfeld, the eminent artist-photographer, and Messrs. Lovewell, Wing & Co., of Ferro-type renown, left by the Macedon for Geraldton on Monday. Messrs. Greenfeld and Lovewell established galleries in the city during the continuance of the late Exhibition, and evidently appreciate Western Australia by paying the colony a second visit, which we trust will prove as successful as their first one did." [Trove, 2nd column, 3rd paragraph]. In June, true to form, he treated the residents of the outback town to several violin performances which were "rapturously received" [Trove, near the bottom].In November 1882, Greenfeld finally left Western Australia. 25 October 1882: "NOTICE. MR. GREENFELD'S PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO NOW OPEN FOR A FEW DAYS ONLY, PREVIOUS TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE COLONY, AT ADELAIDE TERRACE, NEAR DE. WAYLEN'S. LAST DAY FOR TAKING PORTRAITS. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1882." [Trove, 1st column, halfway down].He next appears in India at the Calcutta International Exhibition of 1883-84, but this time in the South Australian Court, hung alongside fellow German-Australian photographer Paul Foelsche [Trove, 4th column, halfway down]. As yet, I can find no evidence of Greenfeld operating a studio in South Australia, but in 1884 he was performing as a member of the Adelaider Liedertafel [Trove]. And from May 1885 he became a member of the Adelaide String Quartet Club (sometimes performing as a quintet) [Trove]. His performances during this period were prolific.On Saturday 10 April 1886 Greenfeld left the colony of South Australia for Melbourne on the steamer the Adelaide [Trove]. In May 1890 he was seeking ladies (hurrah!): "PHOTOGRAPHY. — Ladies wanted to work up enlargements: good salary to competent persons. Greenfeld, 126 Flinders-st." [Trove, 3rd column, under 'Professional Engagements']. The last professional sighting of Greenfeld is in December 1893, further down Flinders Street at no. 174 [Trove, 3rd column, under 'Professional Engagements'].Greenfeld's death notice appeared in The Argus on 26 December 1906: "GREENFELD.—On the 23rd December, at his late residence, 315 Montagu-street, Albert Park, Max, the dearly beloved husband of Hannah Greenfeld, and father of Arthur, Rosa, Mrs. E. Mann, Mrs. W.H. Pierson, and Mrs. A. Daniel, aged 63. (Interred privately, Boroondara cemetery, December 24.) At rest." [Trove]. His wife outlived him by nearly 28 years. 26 July 1934: "GREENFELD.—On the 20th July, suddenly, at Newry (Gippsland), Hannah, widow of the late Max Greenfeld, and loving mother of Arthur (Richmond), Blanch (Mrs. E. Mann, Malvern), Florence (Mrs. J. Logan, W.A), Beatrice (Mrs. A. S. Daniel, Newry) and Rosa (Mrs. A. L. Parry, Albert Park). Aged 84 years. Privately interred, Boroondara cemetery, 23rd July." [Trove]. |
| 撮影日 | 1875-01-01 00:00:00 |
| 撮影者 | pellethepoet , Sydney, Australia |
| タグ | |
| 撮影地 | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 地図 |