BEAUTY AND THE CAMERA

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4396, 29 June 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

BEAUTY AND THE CAMERA

The work of Miss Alice Hughes is dealt with under this title in “The Lady’s Magazine.” The article is charmingly illustrated with photographs by this clever lady. “The name of Alice Hughes is known far and wide as an artist-photographer in the highest sense of the word. Sbe may even claim to have originated a new school, and although she has had many imitators, her pictures possess certain characteristics and beauties entirely their own. Having the originality to strike out a new line, and the good fortune to be independent, she has lain down certain rules and conditions from which she never deviates, and with which her name is always associated. It was at first an uphill battle, and Miss Hughes did not spare herself. She toiled from nine in the morning until eight at night, perfecting herself in the technicalities of her art, and attending lectures and classes. Even now thdt she has reached the top of the tree, and retains a large staff of assistants, she alone poses and photographs her models, 'I take every picture myself,' is her quiet boast. She has photographed nearly every beautiful woman of note, and most English and foreign royalties have sat to her. .Her first royal sitter was the Duchess of Fife, one of her latest being our present gracious Queen, who gave Miss Hughes the proud distinction of being the first photographer to take her portrait after her accession to the throne. The Duchess of Cornwall and York, Princess Victoria of Wales, Princess Charles of Denmark, and many other royal princesses have also sat to her for their photographs. Children’s photographs, again, are Miss Hughes’s strong point. She thoroughly understands children and puts them at once at their ease. They are so unconscious of the meaning of the camera that they pose very gracefully, and make charming pictures in nearly every case. Little Prince Edward of York is a muchphotographed child,- and a great critic. Once, when he was sitting to Miss Hughes for his portrait he remarked, on looking at the half-finished painting—'You have made nay collar the wrong-colour," He informed Miss Hughes, who was taking his photograph, that when he grow up to be a man he was going to be a soldier. 'And what will you do if the soldiers won’t obey?’ she asked him. 'I shall put them in the guard-room,’ was the prcm.pt reply. Little P.rincess Victoria is another Royal sitter, but. like her mother, the Duchess of Cornwall and York, no photograph will ever do her justice, as she inherits the Duchess’s lovely colouring, and has bright red lips, golden hair, and the bluest of eyes, all, alas! lost in a photograph. She is particularly fond of Bianca, Miss Hughes’s white Italian poodle, who has figured in so many pictures and is quite a personage.”