Photographic Archive Review - Spring 2009

There is an inherent fascination in the earliest example of any class of artefact. In the case of Jersey photographs, recent findings at the Photographic Archive have revealed that the shadowy daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman reproduced with this article may meet this criterion. The object is part of a collection from the studio of Clarence P Ouless Photographer, 46 & 48 New Street, St Helier, given to the Société Jersiaise in 2006. The daguerreotype process, a one-off image, formed on a silvered plate, was announced to the public in France in January 1839. It was the first photographic process in general circulation. In use throughout the 1840s, predominantly for commercial portraiture, the process went into rapid decline in Europe by the mid-1850s due to the development of subsequent photographic processes. The format of the portrait reproduced here therefore antedates the photographic practice of CP Ouless; his first advertisement appeared in Jersey trade directories in 1872.

Philip John Ouless, daguerreotype portrait c.1845

Just ten daguerreotypes survive in the Photographic Achive, including this example. Four of these objects carry the studio mark of Henry Mullins, Photographic Portrait Establishment, Royal Square, Jersey. The remaining six objects are not attributed. Mullins' photographic practice in Jersey commenced in July 1848. In an advertisement inserted in the Jersey Express Almanac for 1883, CP Ouless was able to inform the public that he had 'purchased the whole of the Negatives (over 20,000) taken by the late Mr Mullins, Royal Square, containing portraits of all the principal families of the island, with a view to supplying copies for sale. It was considered that the daguerreotype in the Ouless collection – contained in an envelope loose with a number of unexposed plates – might be by Mullins but in Ouless's possession as a result of his purchase of the proceeds of the Mullins studio. An announcement published in Le Constitutionnel, Le Miroir and Chronique de Jersey newspapers from 27th September 1845 (see image overleaf) offers a more compelling explanation and provides an indication for the date of this portrait. Philip John Ouless (1817-1885), the Jersey artist (father of Clarence) evidently practised daguerreotype photography for a brief period. The announcement in the newspapers was discontinued after January 1846 and no subsequent reference has yet been found.

PJ Ouless, well known as one of the most prolific Jersey nineteenth century painters, has not generally been credited with the occupation of photographer. This is understandable given an absence of photographic works. But the early date of his practice gives him an important place in the chronology of photography in Jersey. One of the first advertisements for the later Ouless photographic studio, placed in the Jersey Express Almanac for 1872 described the business as 'Ouless & Son's Photographic Establishment'. This changed solely to the name of Clarence P Ouless from 1873, and the intention here may have been to benefit from his father's reputation as an artist.

No other photographs by PJ Ouless have yet been found, but it seems clear that preserved in an envelope in his son's private effects, are the proceeds of his brief photographic experiment. The handwriting in which the label 'Daguerreotype Plates' is hesitantly misspelt matches that which is found in his journals, recently acquired by the Société Jersiaise. The 'Garantie' hallmark, stamped on the upper right corner of the plate indicates French manufacture and further confirms that this faded portrait was made with the materials acquired by Ouless while learning the daguerreotype process in Paris in 1845. The exact circumstances of origination and the identity of the sitter we may never know, but as the above evidence suggests, the anonymity and poor condition of the object may belie its status as the earliest surviving Jersey photograph.

With this Newsletter we launch the fourth annual Société Jersiaise Photography Competition. As illustrated by the enclosed information leaflet the 2008 event was a great success and the exhibition is set to open at its second venue: Jersey Airport (airside) from June to August 2009. The 2009 Competition takes the same successful format as previous years. Small but important changes have been made to the brief. The Coastline category reverts to Landscape after excellent portrayal of the Jersey shore over two years. The Community category has been changed to Portrait, asking photographers to meet that great photographic challenge: engaging with the human subject to evoke meaningful expression. All the entries from 2006 to 2008 are accessible on an internet gallery at http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/photographic-archive/photo-gallery/. Remember, the competition is open to all so please feel free to mention it to any aspiring photographers you know. We would like to express our sincere thanks to our sponsors: Framing Workshop Ltd, Le Masurier and Islandprint.

Gareth Syvret – Photographic Archivist