Rita Martin
(1875-1958), PhotographerSitter in 7 portraits
Artist associated with 314 portraits
Margareta 'Rita' Martin started her photographic career in 1897 when she helped her elder sister Lallie Charles to run her studio. In 1906 she opened her own studio, working in a similar studio to Charles, photographing subjects in pale colours against a pure white background, and focused on actresses such as Lily Elsie and Lily Brayton and child studies, particularly of Gladys Cooper's two children. Several of her most reproduced child studies were of the Luke Children, whose father, a carpenter for Waring and Gillows, was responsible for building her second studio. Martin's and Charles' few surviving negatives were presented to the National Portrait Gallery by their niece Lallie Charles Martin in 1994.
Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin)
by Rita Martin
sepia-toned matte bromide print, 1933
NPG x125442
Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin)
by Rita Martin
sepia-toned matte print on photographer's card mount, 1934
NPG x68953
Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin)
by Rita Martin
sepia-toned matte print on photographer's card mount, 1934
NPG x68954
Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin)
by Rita Martin
sepia-toned matte print on photographer's card mount, 1934
NPG x68955
Lily Brayton as Katherine in 'The Taming of the Shrew'
by Rita Martin
hand-coloured postcard print, 1904
NPG x202694
by Rita Martin, printed and published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
postcard print, 1907
NPG x203005
by Rita Martin
whole-plate glass negative, 1910
NPG x41298
Evelyn Emily Mary Cavendish (née Petty-Fitzmaurice), Duchess of Devonshire
by Rita Martin
whole-plate glass negative, 1911
NPG x68999
by Lallie Charles, by Rita Martin, by Pach Brothers
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 7 June 1911
NPG x193472
Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin)
by Rita Martin
carbon print on a layer of lead, plated with gold, 1934
NPG x68956
Related People
- Lallie Charles (née Charlotte Elizabeth Martin) (sister)
- Lallie Charles Cowell (née Martin) (niece)
- Kathleen Gandey (née Pow) (niece)
- Isabella Martin (sister)
- Bruce Wardlaw Pow (nephew)
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Mary Ann Prior
02 January 2021, 11:27
I have recently found a photograph by Rita Martin which is quite faded but visible. It is of Constance Villiers Stuart (1876-1966) and her baby daughter Patricia (later Stuart Nemon). It must have been taken in late 1910 because Patricia was born in September. It has Rita Martin's stamp on it and the studio address 74 Baker Street. The image is No 2910-1