Philip Christian Stortz. Artist and Photographer 1826-1882. - Visitor's Pages
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Philip Christian Stortz. Artist and Photographer 1826-1882.

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Thank you for suggesting that you put my great great grandfathers biography on your website, I have been able to come up with what I think you will will need. - Sheila Whittingham
Stortz backplate
My Great-great grandfather Philip Christian Stortz was the son of Johann Jakob Stortz, occupation Cutler. Philip's early life is obscure, but he was born on January 8th 1826 in Frankfurt, Germany, and trained as a Portrait artist at the Frankfurt School of Art, and in 1845 was a pupil of Jakob Becker. He later attended the L'Ecole de Veaux Artes a Paris.

He came to England some time in the mid 1850's and in 1856 exhibited figurative drawings at the Portland Gallery in London. That same year aged 30 he married Isabella, the 17 year old Daughter of Francois DeBruyne a Belgian Engineer, in West Brompton, and the following year their first child Camile Roman was born, he also became a photographer, and died in Lambeth in 1925.


In 1858 Philip took his wife and son to Liverpool, where on the 5th December he opened a fine art studio at 130 Bold Street, Liverpool, and immediately set about replacing the brick wall on the top floor of the building with a wall of glass, which can still be seen today at the back of the building. He opened to very good reviews in the 'Liverpool Albion'
'This Gallery is well worth a visit, and comprises of portraits of nearly every personage of note in Liverpool. And The beautiful portraits executed for some of our fashionable and Merchant Princes having exhibited most unmistakably the genius and taste of the newcomer'.

LIVERPOOL ALBION
On the 5th December 1858

A German artist entirely unknown to the people of Liverpool, took up his abode in Havelock Buildings situated at the top of our most fashionable street, and established a FINE ART GALLERY- a want which had long been felt by the numerous and wealthy class of Ladies and Gentlemen for whom the precincts of the 'change (Exchange) have no attraction. The boldness of the step naturally induced inquiry, and it speedily became a question with the public as to whether the productions emanating from this artists studio would be equal to the prominence of position and the extent and excellence of it's arrangements.

We were at the time solicited by one of our most respected townsmen to pay the establishment an early visit, and after doing so, we were so much pleased with all we saw, that we at once proclaimed the advent of a new era in the photographic art - the branch to which the artist Mr. P.C. Stortz has more particularly devoted himself.

We congratulated the public on the arrival amongst us of an accomplished artist and upon the increased facilities the gallery would afford for the cultivation and enjoyment of the Fine Arts.
The judgment of the public was specially given and the name of STORTZ soon became as familiar as household words the beautiful portraits executed for some of our Fashionables and merchant princes having exhibited most unmistakably the genius and taste of the newcomer.

From that time until now Mr. Stortz's progress has been onward, the extensive patronage and support extended to him having stimulated his boldness and fostered his desire to win by his efforts the honour of being placed at the head of his profession. The result of his devotion and perseverance has been all that he could have anticipated in his most sanguine moments. Step by step he has attained the pinnacle of local fame. The different styles in which Mr. Stortz's portraits, who is assisted by his ACCOMPLISHED Wife, and a large and efficient staff of artists, are executed are too numerous for us to mention, but we may state that they are suited to all tastes and to moderate means, and that each and all may judge for themselves Mr. and Mrs. Stortz throwing open their gallery, where not only will every attention be met with, but visitors will behold one of the most unique collections of photographic art in the United Kingdom.
Mr. And Mrs. Stortz have fairly won their position and we hope they may long continue amongst us and reap the golden harvest their enterprise and talent have so fairly entitled them to.

There are many more reports in the same vein. In 1859 a daughter Christiana is born, and in 1860 a son Fran�ois, and in 1861 another daughter Ida (My great Grandmother) There seemed to be good times for Philip and Isabella, as on the 1861 census he has 3 assistants, living in, plus 4 servants, and according to newspaper reports is photographing many famous dignitaries and army officers, including one Carte of Sir Thomas Hesketh, his horse and 20 of his men!

In January 1861 Philip opened another studio at 6A Upper Parade, Leamington Spa, and for 18 months was a rival of Henry Peach Robinson, and their trade adverts run side by side in the local paper, each trying to outdo the other, with claims of the best artists, facilities, photographic techniques, and Philip claims Royal patronage. He closes his Leamington Studio in 1862 reputedly to open another in North Wales, but I can find no trace of this studio. In 1863 another daughter Louisa is born and sometime later that year Philip moves the family to 66 Bold Street, and his studio at 130, is taken over by Ferranti. By 1865 number 66 is occupied by photographer Daniel Jones. In 1865 another son Charles is born, and the family move across the water to Birkenhead, where in 1866 two of his daughters die, and another son is born in a Manchester workhouse. and in May 1867 Philip is declared a Bankrupt.

During 1869 another son dies, and Philip is listed in the Manchester directory as working as a photographer from 150 Oxford Street and in 1874 this address is occupied by Photographer James Reilly. From around 1869 Philip's profession on any birth, death certificates for his children is listed as artist, not photographer. He marries again around 1872 and has 3 more children, two die in infancy, and he seems to spend the rest of his life in the working class areas, of Salford, Manchester Middlesex and Brighton, always calling himself Artist, and dies in Brighton of Pneumonia in 1882.

I would welcome any more information on Philip Stortz, as my biography is far from complete, and I have only seen 6 CDV's of his work..

I would like to thank David Simkin of Brighton for the information on Victorian photographers, and help with my research - Photographs Courtesy of David Simkin, Brighton - Shelia



Stortz Photograph (tinted)

Stortz Photograph

Stortz Photograph

Stortz Advert

Ida Minnie Cowdrey - Stortz's Granddaughter taken around 1912-1915 (Shelia's Grandmother)


Thanks Shelia for your contribution - Roger


If you have any information:

email Sheila Whittingham




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R.F.Vaughan 2004, 2005, updated 2012