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J W Newland international daguerreotypist and magic lanternist

J W Newland was an English daguerreotypist and magic lanternist who travelled from New Orleans, through Central and South America, to the Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, England, and finally to…Continue

Tags: Zealand, Pacific, Australia, India, Calcutt

Started Aug 1, 2017

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Martyn Jolly posted a blog post

Publication: Empire, Early Photography and Spectacle: The Global Career of Showman Daguerreotypist J. W. Newland

James William Newland’s (1810–1857) career as a showman daguerreotypist began in the United States but expanded into Central and South America, across the Pacific to New Zealand and colonial Australia and onto India. Newland used the latest developments in photography, theatre and spectacle to create powerful new visual experiences for audiences in each of these volatile…See More

Dec 8, 2020

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Elisa deCourcy commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Good morning Nicholas, Thank you for taking the time to reply and I apologise for my own delay in getting back to you. Thank you also for explaining how to more effectively navigate Daguerreobase, I see your point now about the wider collection it…"

Aug 5, 2020

Nicholas John Burnett commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Good evening Elisa, Yes, I am aware the sample sizes are small and represent a tiny proportion of the relevant photographer's output. In all I looked at almost 400 daguerreotypes. Fortunately I didn't draw any firm conclusions…"

Jul 19, 2020

Elisa deCourcy commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Hello Nicholas, As the co-author of this piece, and indeed the book I am going to jump in and reply to a few of your thoughts. Hemi is in London from March 1846 to early February 1847. This stay has an interruption in the middle from…"

Jul 17, 2020

Nicholas John Burnett commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"This is very interesting work and a stimulating discussion. I found Ken Jacobson's comment on the unusual '‘flatness’ of the arched top of the mat' intriguing and set out to look for other examples on Daguerreobase,…"

Jul 16, 2020

Dr. Joe Rock commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Very interesting regarding the Marquess of Northampton. He inherited a spectacular collection, added to it and was deeply interested in art and science. The two portraits of him are by Scots (his wife was Scottish); a big oil by Henry Raeburn and a…"

Jul 14, 2020

Martyn Jolly commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Thanks Joe, Yes, it's intriguing to speculate that it may perhaps have been taken at the Egyptian Hall with an Egyptian Revival chair! On the other hand they could just be generic studio accoutrements, their slightly improvised air may be…"

Jul 14, 2020

Dr. Joe Rock commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Just to add to my previous comment, I am taken with Martyn Jolly's thought that the image may have been made in the Egyptian Hall. The armchair shown is a very simplified and later version of an Egyptian Revival form that became popular after…"

Jul 13, 2020

Dr. Joe Rock commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"I hope I am not repeating observations made by others but for what it is worth: The drape and the chair covering appear to be the same cloth. The chair and especially the upholstery looks 'provincial' - not the very stylish French…"

Jul 13, 2020

Michael Pritchard commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"There are a lot of Claudet dags in the RPS Collection and V&A Collections: a couple here look promisiing and a search pulls up other images which show chairs and…"

Jul 12, 2020

Martyn Jolly commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Hi Michael, Thanks for showing that Claudet detail, we agree that the floral patterns are very similar, although perhaps not identical. We also note the close similarity in colouring technique between the two images. Could you tell us a little bit…"

Jul 12, 2020

Tony Rackstraw commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Message from yesterday - "Hemi took about six months to get back to new Zealand, and although there is no record of him stopping off in Australia, he may have." Hemi Pomara departed Gravesend on the ship "Glentanner" on 4…"

Jul 12, 2020

Michael Pritchard commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"One thought: looking at some of the curtains/drapes Claudet was using I wonder if this - from a Claudet dag - is just a closed up version of those shown in the Pomara dag?"

Jul 10, 2020

Ken Jacobson left a comment for Martyn Jolly

"Thanks, Martyn. Well, this detective work is fascinating but frustrating because the historical record, like present day life, annoyingly does not necessarily coincide with what we initially expect to be a logical progression of events. We found…"

Jul 10, 2020

Ken Jacobson commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Martin, A short PS. You mentioned cases for London photographers. Most of the major daguerreotypists did indeed have their logo stamped on their cases. I have known a few exceptions where the image is clearly by Kilburn or Beard and lacks the…"

Jul 9, 2020

Ken Jacobson commented on Martyn Jolly's blog post Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

"Thank you for your detailed response to my queries, Martyn. Based on what you have said, I still have no definite conclusions but at the risk of boring everyone, present more conjecture. My observations are based on a modicum of research, my own…"

Jul 9, 2020

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Publication: Empire, Early Photography and Spectacle: The Global Career of Showman Daguerreotypist J. W. Newland

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Posted on December 8, 2020 at 0:30

Portrait of Hemi Pomara as a young man: how we uncovered the oldest surviving photograph of a Māori

It is little wonder the life of Hemi Pomara has attracted the attention of writers and film makers. Kidnapped in the early 1840s, passed from person to person, displayed in London and ultimately abandoned, it is a story of indigenous survival and resilience for our times.

Hemi has already been the basis for the character James Pōneke in New Zealand…

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Posted on June 30, 2020 at 5:30 — 17 Comments

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At 14:07 on July 10, 2020, Ken Jacobson said…: Thanks, Martyn.

Well, this detective work is fascinating but frustrating because the historical record, like present day life, annoyingly does not necessarily coincide with what we initially expect to be a logical progression of events. We found this to be the case when we undertook the same sort of investigation into Ruskin's daguerreotypes.

Good luck to you and Elisa deCourcy. I hope you are able to be certain of your conclusions by the time you finish.

Best,

Ken