b. 1808; d.1901
Hawes was an American pioneer who went into partnership in 1843 with Albert Sands Southworth. The partnership, in Boston, lasted just under twenty years, and Hawes continued to practise photography until his death in 1901.
A contemporary review drew a sharp distinction between the "rats" who produced shoddy work and consequently causing the lowering of esteem of the art of "Heliography" and this paretnership who, the review states, "have never lowered the dignity of their Art or their profession by reducing their prices, but their fixed aim and undeviating rule has been to produce the finest specimens, of which they were capable,--the finest in every respect, artistic, mechanical, and chemical; graceful, pleasing in posture and arrangement, and exact in portraiture. Their style, indeed, is peculiar to themselves; presenting beautiful effects of light and shade, and giving depth and roundness together with a wonderful softness or mellowness."
They were noted for their portraits of brides and wedding parties. They also patented (the review ssuggests "invented" but this is questionable) an instrument which which stereoscopic pictures may be viewed.
Early in 1999 there was intense interest following the discovery of some 240 daguerreotypes produced by these two photographers. They went up for auction (read further here) , the total price exceeding two million pounds.
Collections of their work exist at the JFK Library, Boston. Additional information can be seen at http://www.photographymuseum.com/sandh1.html. One of the leading experts on these two daguerreotypists is Ken Appollo.
© Robert Leggat, 2000.