A little boy strikes a pose in a fashionable white jacket. Taken by London society photographer Dorothy Hickling most likely before World War I, it came from the greater Boston estate of Lt. Robert Davidson (dates unknown) who may have later become a pilot affiliated with the RAF.

Dorothy J. Hickling: 1880-1946

For many years, commercial photographer Dorothy Hickling maintained a studio at 117 Ebury Street in the fashionable Belgravia district of London. The earliest known published reference places her at this address in 1914 (Trades Directory) but possibly earlier. She most likely took over the studio from photographer M. Shadwell Clerke, (Mabel Sophia or Shadwell Clerke: 1868-1923) active at this address in the early 20th Century.

Some early published portraits of members of Society by Hickling appeared from 1909-19 in The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality, a weekly focused on the arts and high society. Nominated for membership in the Royal Photographic Society in December, 1925, she became a member the following year, and Associate by 1928, entering photographic salons (1.) between 1925-28. In 1929 she photographed Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw in the Ebury studio on 11 November, and would go on to be associated with the studio address as late as 1937, according to published RPS journal records. Several of her works can be seen at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

1. The 1929 American Annual of Photography lists the artist as having entered 4 salons each between 1925-26, 1926-27, 1927-28.