James Lafayette

James Stack Lauder (22 January 1853–20 August 1923), known professionally as James Lafayette, was an Irish portrait photographer who was managing director of Lafayette Ltd, a company in Dublin specialising in society photographs, from 1898 to 1923.

Early life and family James Stack Lauder was born on 22 January 1853 in Dublin. His parents were Edmond (sometimes Edmund) Stanley (c.1824–91) and his wife, Sarah Harding Lauder (née Stack, c.1828–1913). He had five brothers and four sisters. The family lived at 42 Blessington Street. The Lauder family came from Tisaran, near Banagher, King's County (now County Offaly).

Edmond Lauder set up a photographic studio with a partner in the 1850s, trading as the Lauder Brothers, working with glass ambrotype. The Lauder Brothers eventually had 3 studios in Dublin, producing "carte-de-visite". He was invited to photograph Queen Victoria in 1887, and was granted the royal warrant as "Her Majesty's photographer in Dublin". This led to him receiving numerous other commissions with members of the royal family. His 1885 photograph of the princess of Wales sold 60,000 copies. A further collection of 30,000 to 40,000 nitrate negatives is at London's National Portrait Gallery. Further collections are in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle; and in private hands in Dublin.

Notes and references

Anon, 1990. V&A. Brief history of the Lafayette Studio Retrieved: 5 January 2008. London: Victoria & Albert Museum. Meadows, Jane. 1990. V&A. James Lafayette biography Retrieved: 5 January 2008. London: Victoria & Albert Museum. Meadows, Jane. 2004. "Lauder, James Stack (1853–1923)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Online edition Retrieved: 6 January 2008.