Robert Howlett
(1831-1858), PhotographerArtist associated with 13 portraits
Robert Howlett began taking photographs in 1852 but came to prominence through his work with The Photographic Institution in New Bond Street, London, established in 1853 by Joseph Cundall and Phillip Delamotte. He was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to copy the works of Raphael and to create a series of portraits of soldiers of the Crimean War, but his best known photographs are those of Brunel and the Great Eastern. At his death, aged just twenty-eight, it was suggested that Howlett might have inadvertently poisoned himself with his own photographic chemicals.
by Robert Howlett
albumen print, November 1857
NPG P112
by Robert Howlett
albumen print, November 1857
NPG P662
Isambard Kingdom Brunel preparing the launch of 'The Great Eastern'
by Robert Howlett
albumen print, arched top, 1857
NPG P663
by Robert Howlett, and George Downes
albumen stereoscopic card, November 1857
NPG P1979
by Robert Howlett, published by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, November 1857
NPG x5177
by Robert Howlett, published by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, November 1857
NPG x4836
probably by Robert Howlett
albumen print, circa 1857
NPG x4994
Margareta Snyders (née de Vos)
by Robert Howlett, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
albumen print, 1857
NPG x199776
by Cundall, Downes & Co, after Robert Howlett
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860-1865 (circa 1858)
NPG Ax14805
by Cundall, Downes & Co, after Robert Howlett
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860-1865 (circa 1858)
NPG Ax11914
by Robert Howlett
albumen print on card mount, circa 1858
NPG x21451
by Horace Harral, published by Illustrated Times, after a photograph by Robert Howlett
wood engraving, published 16 January 1858 (November 1857)
NPG D1127
by Horace Harral, after a photograph by Robert Howlett
wood engraving, 1858
NPG D6865
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John Bowden
15 May 2016, 13:33
The portrait of Brunel and others ( ref NPG P663 ) gives it a date of 1857. In 1857 the first attempt at the launching of the Great Eastern was made but this picture is one from the successful 2nd attempt at launching on 31st January 1858. ( I have a print of it ). There is a similar picture, allegedly of the first attempt, which show similar figures but dressed in different clothes with one or two addition people in the picture. Unless the descriptions are the wrong way round the date on yours is wrong.
Michael Pritchard
26 October 2016, 08:43
You have Howlett's date of birth wrong (it is also incorrect in the DNB). He was born on 3 July 1831. This information comes from parish registers. His wiki entry has been updated. He was baptised on 25 September 1831, again based on the parish registers.