Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), A folio of 54 photographs… - The Denis Joachim Collection, Day 2, Photographs - Mossgreen Auctions (No longer trading)

Lot No.

***

Description:

Charles Henry Kerry (1857-1928), A folio of 54 photographs depicting landscapes of the Snowy Mountains environs., 15 cm x 25 cm each. Notes: Early in his career, Kerry specialised in portraits but branched into photographing Sydney scenery and society and eventually turned his small studio into Australia's largest photographic establishment. Kerry sold albums of high-quality of the countryside. In 1885 he was asked to prepare an exhibit of Aboriginal portraits and corroboree pictures for the 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London. In 1890 he was appointed official photographer to the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington. In addition to his portrait work, Kerry took on a number of government commissions, including travelling through New South Wales. Kerry's work was greatly facilitated by the invention of the dry-plate process in Europe in 1878. Where once photographs had to be developed on the spot, now they could be taken and developed later in the studio. In 1891, he was commissioned by the government to photograph the Jenolan and Yarrangobilly caves. The project, carried out by candlelight and magnesium flashes, was hazardous. Kerry's photographs of New South Wales were exhibited at the 1893 Chicago International Exhibition. By 1900 Kerry & Co. was the largest photographic establishment in the colony and handled the major illustrations for the local press. A long interest in mineralogy led him to visit Kiandra for the first time in 1894. He returned in 1896 on a photographic tour. He pioneered snow sports at Kiandra and in the winter of 1897, led a party from Jindabyne to the summit of Mt Kosciusko, which led to the opening up of the area for skiing and the naming of a run after him. In 1909 he was elected Founding President of the Kosciusko Alpine Club. Before he (and other photographers like Nicholas Caire, Jw Lindt, Jw Beattie) brought the beauty of the mountain to the general population, activity in the snow at the end of the 19th century was largely restricted to those who lived in snow prone areas. It was probably a means of transport rather than a sport. Places like Kiandra in winter were completely isolated by deep snow drifts from the rest of New South Wales and visitors at that season often had to ski 15km to get there. Charles Kerry was the first person to promote the Kiandra Snow Shoe carnival outside the Monaro District and to introduce Sydney visitor to skiing there. He drew the attention of the NSW Government to the region's skiing and the NSW Government Tourist Bureau commenced promoting and organising regular trips to Kiandra for the general public. Recognising the limitations of Kiandra as a winter holiday destination, he persuaded the government to open up the Kosciusko area as the main focus for holiday above the winter snow line. Subsequently, a road was constructed from Jindabyne to the Kosciusko Summit. Percy Hunter, the founder of the NSW Government Tourist Bureau, wrote in 1928 of Charles Kerry's significant contributions to the development of Australian skiing and nominated him as 'the father of Australian skiing'. Kerry retired in 1913 to dedicate himself to his mining interest in Malaysia and Thailand. Although his nephew took over the business, increased competition and changing tastes meant that Kerry & Co closed in 1917.

Estimate:

***

Price:

***

Category:

Unclassified