John P. Nicholas

Nothing is known of John P. Nicholas’ early years. In 1858 his photographs were shown at an exhibition of work of the Madras Photography Society and much later in 1884 at the Calcutta International Exhibition. His Madras Studio opened around 1861 and was still in business as late as 1905 even though Nicholas probably left India sometime in the 1890s. There is a record of a London, England branch in 1866 although this was only for a short period of time. Possibly he had traveled to England for a short while and then later decided to return to India. Two years later he opened a studio in Ootacamund and partnered with H.V. Curths sometime in 1869 and continued during the 1870s as Nicholas and Curths. In 1881 they published a ‘Catalogue of Photographic Views, Chemicals. Etc.’

In a footnote to John Falconer‘s 1984 article “Ethnographical Photography in India 1850–1900” (Photographic Collector 5(1):16–46) he gives the following additional information:

“John P. Nicholas was in business from c. 1858 and in partnership with H.V. Curths from c. 1869–c. 73. The firm of Nicholas and Co. continued until around 1905, although Nicholas appears to have left Madras in about 1895 (Madras Asylum almanacs)