Business photographs
Photographs in the collection received from the London business include images of the various New Court buildings, Rothschild staff, and the staff and operations of the Royal Mint Refinery.
Family photographs
Photograph collections have been formed from the personal collections of various members of the Rothschild family reflecting their family and leisure interests from the 19th to the 21st century. As with any family, photography was used to record family events such as holidays in this country and abroad, winter sports, portraits of family and friends, members of the family at the time of the First World War, children at play, cricket, equestrian events, and family gatherings.
There are a considerable number of albums dating from the 1860s onwards which include portraits not just of the Rothschild family and their friends and associates but also members of British and European royalty. Many of these are studio portraits by photographers such as Alice Hughes, Desderi, Etienne Carjat, Hills and Saunders, Camille Silvy. There are also volumes which show exterior and interior views of Rothschild estates, including Mentmore, Tring Park (by H. Bedford Lemere), Waddesdon Manor (Ferdinand de Rothschild's 'Red Book'), and Halton House (by Sam Glen Payne).
Photographs by Nathaniel Mayer Anselm von Rothschild (1836–1905)
Photography was one of Nathaniel's many interests and he published illustrated accounts of his travels in Europe, and endowed the Viennese Camera Club.
Photographic collections of Robert Philippe Gustave de Rothschild (1880-1946)
Robert was destined to play a major role in the management of the Paris House, de Rothschild Frères. He served as a lieutenant in the First World War, receiving two citations. The Archive holds a large collection of photographs and moving images, depicting family members and images of the First World War.
Photographic collections of Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)
Of particular significance are the large number of photographs by Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942). Comprising photograph albums, loose prints, the images show countries he visited while on holiday, such as Denmark, Egypt, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia. The subjects of his photography include his yacht the Rhodora, views of gardens showing plants and flowers, views of towns and buildings, landscapes, bird nests, a bull fight, portraits of family and friends, and scenes that inspired Lionel. The camera equipment he used has survived and includes three cameras made by Newman Guardia Ltd with their respective holders and cases. Of particular note is the rare collection of over 700 autochromes, taken by Lionel just before the First World War. See The Rothschild Autochromes »
Other photographs
The Archive holds photographs by W. & J. Piggott relating to the Rothschild sponsored craft exhibitions held at Leighton Buzzard Corn Exchange in 1875, an album of the Sassoon family in Scotland c.1890s. and images (believed to be the Dutch coast), taken in the First World War and sent to Robert de Rothschild (1880-1946). The Archive also holds an album of photographs of Aston Clinton, taken by the Head Gardener, Mr Warren c.1900.
A recent accession includes two very fine photograph albums depicting landmarks on the railway line between Paris and Boulogne, c.1855. These albums were commissioned by James Mayer de Rothschild, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chemin de Fer du Nord. The photographs are by the renowned French photographer Édouard Baldus.
For further information about photographs in our collections, please Contact Us »
