Walter, Henry and Jonas

Introduction:

2022 research revealed "H & J Walter" to be brothers HENRY and JONAS WALTER, born in Hull, Yorkshire in 1816 and 1820 respectively. Neither married, and both, as was the case with several late profilists, became photographers. Records show both living with their 2 sisters and, as evidenced by Jonas' burial, the siblings were of Jewish origin.

Few works by the brothers are recorded and only 4 are illustrated by McKechnie. One "label", a stencil stamp reading "H & J Walter, Profilists, London" is known and is found on some works. From the style of sitters' costumes, all profiles appear painted a few years either side of 1850.

Bust-size, half and full-length sillhouettes all housed in rosewood frames, are recorded. Some were cut from blackened paper. Illustrated in McKechnie, the dove grey and gold embellishments on an infant are coarsely applied. However, the 3 full-length images show more competent detailing.

Lifting their compositions a little above the commonplace is the use of painted dove grey paper as a base colour for most of their known sitters, which, to quote McKechnie, "...produces an individual and attractive impression". Black, gold, Chinese white, and in one case violet highlighting details their work.

The paucity of advertising records makes an impossibility of plotting the extent and duration of their profilist career. However, the first conclusive record of them comes from the 1851 Census, which finds them lodging at the Fountain Inn, Chichester, Sussex. Their joint occupation is given as "Artist, Profile Taker", indicating they were "on the road". Three years later they are offering profiles and photography in tandem.

In August 1854, Louis Daguerre's patent expired and with it, the requirement for an expensive licence to operate as a Daguerreotype photographer. Aware of the business opportunities the new, cheaper accessible art form could make, by the 28th of the same month, the Walters were advertising in the TEIGNMOUTH GAZETTE as profilists and photographers.

A year later in Barnstaple on the 15th of November 1855, in the NORTH DEVON JOURNAL they again offer profiles and photographs in tandem. Profiles "...superior to the Cheap Watercolour Pictures...commonly offered..." half-length on paper 1 penny, on card 2 pence, gold highlighted 6 pence. Full-length works in black were 1 shilling, full-length gold shaded 2 shillings. Children "depending on size"were sixpence, ninepence or one and sixpence gold shaded. "Photographic Likenesses" were offered from 1 shilling, coloured from 4 shillings, with "Daguerreotypes...[available]...for Brooches, Lockets &c..."

The next known newspaper advertisement appears in the WESTERN FLYING POST on the 26th of June 1860. Leasing a temporary photographic studio in Yeovil, Somerset, they offered stereoscopic views of the district and "First Class Coloured Portraits..." presumably hand-tinted by themselves for one shilling. No mention is made of profiles.

The 1861 Census finds both brothers, widowed sister Ann Cohen (1800-1878), her daughter and unmarried sister Catherine (1804-1876) at the "PHOTOGRAPHIC SHOP", 538 New Oxford Street, London. Between 1860-1875, Post Office directories also list a "Fancy Repository" run by them at the same address.

The brothers used the same business combination later the same year, when, doubtless tapping into a developing tourist market, they relocated permanently to Lyme Regis, Dorset.

LYME REGIS MUSEUM states they were "the earliest professional photographers in the area". Evidenced by Jonas Walter's advertising card "THE BAZAAR and PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION, STATIONERY, PHOTOGRAPHS and FANCY GOODS" business was situated in Broad Street.

From 1864, both appear on jury lists as "Fancy Warehousemen". Jonas became a local Freemason, the masonic iconography of a square and compass regularly heads the rear of his studio photographs. In the 1871 Census, he is recorded  a Lyme Regis "Town Councillor".

THE BRIDPORT NEWS records Henry Walter died "...at the Bazaar, Lyme Regis..." on the 12th of July 1869. The WESTERN GAZETTE records Jonas' death at the Devon and Exeter Hospital on the 21st of December 1888. Interred in Exeter's Jewish burial ground, his headstone reads "Brother of Catherine and Henry Walter and Ann Cohen of Lyme Regis and New Oxford Street, London".

Revised 22 November 2022 (Brian Wellings)