James LaFayette (James Stack Lauder)

James Lauder studied painting in Paris and worked in a photographic studio in Berlin. In 1880, he opened his own studio in Dublin that became established as the firm Lafayette. In 1884 he entered the Photographic Society of Great Britain’s annual show and was awarded a medal for his first entry, he was also elected a member. In the spring of 1885 Alexandra, the Princess of Wales was photographed at his studio after receiving an honorary degree while visiting Ireland. The image of the princess photographed in this scholarly pose was incredibly popular and over 60,000 prints were sold. In 1887, Lauder was summoned to photograph Queen Victoria in her Golden Jubilee year and became the first Irish photographer to be granted the royal warrant. In the same year he married Annie, the daughter of artist, Felix Pierre Dinnette. Annie and James had three sons and four daughters.