PHOTOGRAPHS
Frith, Francis and Company
England (1822 - 1898)
Studley Royal, Fountains Hall, S.W.
c. 1885
Albumen print
8 1/4 x 6 in. (21 x 15.2 cm) image and sheet size
Joseph and Elaine Monsen Photography Collection
FA 2001.74

Around 1885, Francis Frith, or a member of his photography company, took this view of the Elizabethan mansion, Fountains Hall, located near the English city of York. One of a number of buildings on the very large estate known as Studley Royal, Fountains Hall was built sometime between 1598 and 1604, and was the home of several influential families over the course of its history. Such mansions and landmarks were of great interest to Frith, as he attempted to create a permanent photographic record of attractions throughout England, including every city, town, village, mansion, and scenic view.

As England’s most famous photographer in the late nineteenth century, Frith was asked repeatedly by the wealthy to photograph their fine mansions. This strong desire for images, augmented by those of the ever-growing tourist industry, confirmed for Frith that there would be a market for landmark photographs. An excellent businessman, Frith took full advantage of the opportunity and began compiling a complete photographic record of the country. In order to complete this enormous undertaking, Frith hired a team of photographic assistants to travel throughout England and relied on sales representatives to sell the souvenir views to over 2,000 shops across the country. With this business plan, Frith sold millions of prints. -- Label copy for 150 Works of Art, October 1, 2005 to February 26, 2006.