Figure 1.--Here we see the back of one of the Bustin's CDV portraits. Click on the image to see the portrait. |
|
The back of this CDV read. "Mr. & Mrs. Bustin and Son. Art Photographers, Hereford and Ross. Established 1858. Negatives preserved for future copies. Pictures of all kinds carefully copied and this or any other portrait reduced to fit a locket or enlarged to life size and painted in oil or water colors. Special facilities for out-door photography. Groups of children and wedding or other parties. Landscape and architectural photography. R. Britton Bustin, Late head master of the Hereford School of Art. In connection with the Government. Department of Science & Art South. Kensington Museum, London. Amateurs desiring instruction are invited to call." That provides quite a bit of infoirmation.
Richard Britton Bustin was born at Barnstaple in Devon (1833). His father, Richard Bustin, was a spirit dealer as reprted uin the 1851 census. He married Mary Ann Warren at St Giles Church in London (1851) He opend his photographic studio (1858). The couple appear on the 1861 census living at Victoria Street in Hereford. They had four daughters and one son. He kisted his professiin as 'Master of School of Artists.' We are left wondering what that meant. It may be an upscale way of dayong Photoigraphrr. Mary Ann birnn in Londin (1833) appears from the beguinning to be invioned in the family business. She described her occuoation as 'hotographer'. They eventualy had 13 children. By 1881 Mary has become Mariion and an 'Art Master' and Richard is now an 'Art Master' as well. But he claimad to hve been head naster of the Herefird School of Art. We are noit sure just what that was. Later inlife he seems to have turned to being a 'wine and spirit merchant' (1891) and a publican at The Griffin, 41 Colston Street, Bristol (1894). The pub, now called The Gryphon, is operating in Brustol. We are left to wonder why he gave upmphotograophy, but his wife and son continued tom ooperate r=tywomstudios. Richard died at age 65 in Hereford or Britol (1895). Two Photographers that may be descendants of Richard and nmary Anne are Bustin in Glamorgan county.
Women in the 19th century had limited work opportunities. And photography was not one of them, but we find a few women photographers in America. We are less sure about Britain. We assume that Mary Ann got involved after Richard launched the business, but she was clearly a major part of the business. From an early point the CDVs refer to "Mr and Nrs. Bustin". It was unusual to advertise this. We do not know how nuch sge got involved in the photographyt as opposed to business operations. Butbassg=he called herself an 'At Master' that suggesrs she was jnvolved in the phoygraopher. Ine of theiur sons was also invioved.
There appear to have been two studios. One in Here ford and the oyther in Ross on Rye. Both are lovated close togethrr in Herefordshire.
We know that the first studio was founded (1858). This was just as albumen pgotigraphy and the CDV was beciming popular. Most of the photographs we have found are CDV porttaits. We know that the business continued at least into the 1880s because both Bustins were calling themselves 'art masters'.
The studio offered quite a range of products. They copied photographss clients brought in. And hey dud all sizes, from lockets tom life csize. We habe bikt fiund life sized portraits, but we notice other phhograohers offering this servuce as well. They often colorized photigraohs as well as offering oil poaintings based in photigraihs. They offered to photoigraph groups, specufying children and weddings as well as partiies. They also offered Landscape and architectural photography. We note portraits taken at counyry estates of all the family members. we note the phrase "Amateurs desiring instruction are invited to call." om the back of tyhe portrsaits. sapparentky thry trained asporing photographers.
We are not sure what was meant by " In connection with the Government. Department of Science & Art South. Kensington Museum, London." Hereford of course was near London.
Navigate the Related HBC Pages:
[Wide-brimmed sailor hats]
[Ruffled collars]
[Neck bows]
[Collar-buttoning suits]
[Velvet suits]
[Knee pants]
[Long stockings]
[High-top shoes]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main English suit type page]
[Return to Main English suit page]
[Return to Main collar-buttoning jacket page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Photography]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]