2787c. (hand colored photograph) Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine by Fred Thompson c.1910.
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2787c. (hand colored photograph) Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine by Fred Thompson c.1910.
2787c. (hand colored photograph) Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine by Fred Thompson c.1910. Lovely hand colored photograph in original period mat shows a wonderful clear view of the light station and fog signal building jutting out from the rocky shore. The mat is signed “Thompson. The Thompson Studios were one of the larger Portland studios selling hand-colored photographs around 1900. Like most other early 20th century hand-colored photographers, Thompson Studios followed the lead of Wallace Nutting, Sawyer, Davidson and others, hand coloring their photographic images and selling primarily exterior landscape scenes. Most Thompson images were taken in Maine or northern New England . They are typically characterized by a lighter shade of coloring, with the image mounted upon an indented matting, signed “Thompson” lower right, and framed within a 1/2″ frame. Frederick H. Thompson (1844-1909), the father, started the Thompson Art Co, or “TACO” as it was also known, around 1905. Fred Thompson sold primarily exterior scenes, but also sold a nice variety of Colonial Interior scenes as well. It is estimated that the Thompson Art Co. ranked 4th in total output of hand-colored photography during the early 20th c, behind only Wallace Nutting, David Davidson, and Charles Sawyer. Frederick H. Thompson died suddenly in 1909 after ingesting cyanide. His son, Frederick M. Thompson (1876-1923), took over the business upon his father’s death. The Thompson Art Co. closed its doors permanently in 1923 upon the death of Frederick M. Thompson. The present lighthouse is the original structure on this location, with a few height changes through the years. There were no lighthouses on the shores of Maine, when merchants petitioned the government in 1784 for a light marking the entrance to Portland Harbor. Nothing was accomplished until 1790 when Congress appropriated the necessary funds. The tower is constructed of rubble stone and was finished and lit on January 10, 1791. Beautiful detail, clean and crisp, this is a fine early image and is nicely hand colored. The image measures about 4 ½” x 8 ¾” on 7” x 11” period mat. Overall in quite nice condition, some soiling to mat, light wear to frame. A wonderful display piece. (VG+). $88.