The only known photograph of A.T. Roberts, taken by Ev Roseborough in Feb 1944 for the J. Walter Thompson agency.
Toronto. Photo collectors and historians can attest to the fact that only the wealthy could hire an artist to use his talent and paints to create a ‘likeness’ before 1839 and photography opened up creation of a ‘likeness’ to millions. Within a couple of generations one photo could be taken and printed on the carte de visite cards over and over – with a dozen prints costing just a few pennies.
People ‘back home’ could send a CdV photo by mail to relatives in the new world and those already here could reciprocate to keep in touch in the days before smartphones and their ubiquitous cameras that send images around the world in seconds.
Not all folk were recorded for posterity, In the case of photographer A T Roberts, his photos of other things are easier to come by than photos of the gentleman himself. The late Ev Roseborough has an article in issue 12-5 of Photographic Canadiana about “A T Roberts” and his contribution to history.
Ev begins, “A.T. Roberts had the ability to create a story situation, and apply photographic technique with such telling power that he must surely have earned the title of Canada’s first photographic illustrator.
“Although still-life was his forte, he could exhibit the same skill in posing a figure, or drawing it from memory as he had done for his teaching certificate at England’s Kensington Art School. The importance and rarity of his unique prints in various media make them valuable to collectors.”
Members back then read all of Ev’s article in their personal copy of the journal. More recently, members could use our PHSC DVD to read the pdf version of issue 12-5. The DVD, sent to all members, covers volumes 1-40 of our journal. Not a member? It’s easy (and cheap) to join. Follow the sub-menu above titled ‘MEMBERSHIP’, or use the right hand sidebar and pay by card or PayPal. A copy of the DVD will be sent via Canada Post once your membership is registered.
