Identity:

Hayman Selig Mendelssohn was born in Poland but became a naturalised British subject. He is thought to have been a relative of Albert Mendelssohn. He was a photographer, printseller, publisher and importer of photographs and chromos.

Life:

In Poland Mendelssohn took part in a Polish uprising before fleeing to London, via Hamburg. When he arrived in Britain, he worked for the Downey studio before setting up on his own in Newcastle. He was a photographer of cabinet and carte de visite photographs, and opened his South Kensington studio in June 1882. He was also a publisher and importer of photographs and chromos, and seller of prints.

Mendelssohn photographed Whistler around 1884 (the photograph is held in Glasgow University Library, Department of Special Collections). At the time this photograph was taken, Mendelssohn's studio was at 27 Cathcart Road, South Kensington (1883-1888), with a partner studio in Oxford Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. He set up another studio at 14 Pembridge Crescent, London, W., (1886-1908), and in 1887 was in business with Herman E. Mendelssohn.

Bibliography:

UK census, 1901; Post Office Directory of Stationers, 1872; Kelly's Directory of Paddington, Bayswater, Kensal Green ("Buff Book"), 1897; Stationary Publication by the Friends of Glasgow University of Glasgow (produced and printed by Denis Mills Associates, Maidstone, Kent); Michael Pritchard, A Directory of London Photographers 1841-1908, Watford: Photoresearch, 1994.