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The Composite Photographs
Stanley G. Triggs
A Famous Composite Photograph
The occasion of a fancy dress skating carnival in the Victoria Rink inspired his first large production in 1870. This event was staged in honour of Prince Arthur, who, as an officer in training with the Rifle Brigade, was stationed in Montreal. Notman declared his intention of making a record of the event, and invited those who planned to participate in the skating carnival to bring their costumes and skates to the studio and have their portraits taken for a composite photograph. One hundred and fifty people came in answer to the advertisement to don their brightly coloured costumes representing various themes and epochs. They included Scottish couples in Highland costume, Elizabethan ladies and courtiers, several soldiers and sailors, a voyageur, a pilgrim father, "Diana", goddess of the hunt, with bow and arrows, a scattering of young women in peasant costumes, a woman dressed as Night, another as the morning star, a man arrayed as a counter bass, another as a giant head and an "Indian" who appears to be aiming his arrow at a woman smoking a cigar. Notman's advertisement, published in The Gazette, February 25, 1870, reads:
BLEURY STREET, FEBRUARY, 1870.
The approaching CARNIVAL at the Skating rink is likely to be one of more than ordinary interest from the fact that His Royal Highness Prince Arthur is expected to grace the occasion with his presence.
I have therefore selected this opportunity as one offering many advantages, to carry out what has long been my intention; To get up an effective PICTURE OF THE RINK, for which purpose I beg to request that you will give me an early sitting, before or as soon after the event as possible, in the Costume you intend to use on the occasion.
The Directors have kindly consented to give me every facility in their power, so as to ensure a successful Picture.
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM NOTMAN.
On completion of this composite photograph, measuring 20 x 27 1/2 inches, Notman had his staff produce a much larger coloured version as well, measuring 37 1/2 x 53 1/2 inches. By use of a solar enlarger (an apparatus using sunlight as a light source), the image was projected on to a large canvas that had previously been coated with light-sensitive photographic emulsion. During the necessary very long exposure the image gradually appeared on the emulsified canvas. After fixing, washing, and drying, the canvas was attached to a wooden stretcher, of the type used for oil paintings. The image was then coloured in oil by Notman's two most talented artists of that period, Henry Sandham1, who had been on staff since about 1860 and was now at age thirty head of the art department, and Edward Sharpe, a twenty-year-old of immense talent just hired the previous year. Placed in an ornate gold frame with glass to protect it, this large coloured version of the skating carnival was on display in the Notman Studio for sixty-five years. In 1955 it was given by Charles Notman (William’s youngest son) to McGill University and now, still in near-new condition, it is one of the highlights of the Notman Photographic Archives.
Notman's announced intention of creating a composite photograph of the colourful event evoked a quick and angry response from a young photographer and fellow Scot, James Inglis, who had already begun to make a composite of the same subject.
In The Montreal Daily Witness Febuary 26, 1870, Inglis placed the following challenge:
VICTORIA SKATING RINK
A notice having appeared in the public papers that another Picture of the Fancy Dress Entertainment at the Skating Rink is to be made in opposition to the one I had arranged for with the Director, and which has been in progress the last five weeks, and the manner of carrying out of which originated with me, I take this opportunity of coming before the citizens of Montreal in an open contest for the Laurels so long and deservedly worn by my competitor, who advertises to make the Picture in opposition to mine. I offer a Challenge, of which the following may be the terms: - That the merits of the respective Pictures may be decided upon not later than the 12th of May next, by three Judges chosen by the Directors of the Rink - the losing party to pay a forfeit of $200, one-half to be given to the Montreal General Hospital, the other to the Protestant House of Industry.
JAMES INGLIS
N.B. - Ladies and Gentlemen intending to appear in costume or as spectators on the occasion, will confer a favor by calling at my Rooms at the earliest possible date, where every facility will be afforded for dressing, etc, etc. J.I.
Notman ignored the challenge, content perhaps with the free publicity. The claim by Inglis that he was the originator of the technique was, of course, untrue (if indeed that is what he meant when he wrote " the manner of carrying out of which originated with me"). The technique for making composite photographs had been practiced in Europe and North America for a number of years.
But why it took so long for Notman to make his first major composite is a puzzling question.
1For biographies of Notman's senior photographers and painters see Stanley G. Triggs, William Notman: The Stamp of a Studio (Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario and Coach House Press, 1985).
