Herbert Rose Barraud was a noted portrait photographer who had studios in London and Liverpool. He produced cabinet photographs of many famous Victorian statesmen, artists, and members of the aristocracy, many of which were published in his two-volume work, Men and Women of the Day, 1888-89. Most of Barraud’s images were Woodburytypes, then a newly developed process which lent itself admirably to portraiture, being able to render middle tones accurately. Between 1873 and 1880 he had a partnership, Barraud & Jerrard, with George Milner Gibson Jerrard.

Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility (supervision of sets, lighting, direction, casting, as well as playing the leading roles) for season after season at the West End’s Lyceum Theater, establishing himself and his company as representative of English classical theater. In 1895 he became the first actor to be awarded a knighthood, indicating full acceptance into the higher circles of British society.

From Men and Women of the Day: A Picture Gallery of Contemporary Portraiture. London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1888-1891. 2 volumes. 36 large woodburytype portraits each mounted on blue toned card stock with Barraud’s studio stamp in the lower margin. A variety of contemporary portraits of society’s elite and popular figures, similar to Galerie contemporaine.