page_title: Johnstone, O'Shannessy and Co
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Johnstone, O'Shannessy and Co / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of Lady Constance Knox.
context_page_description: Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co was a leading photographic studio located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was active from 1865 to 1905.
context_section_description: Henry James Johnstone was born in Birmingham, England, in 1835 and studied art under a number of private teachers and at the Birmingham School of Design before joining his father's photographic firm. He arrived in Melbourne in 1853 aged 18 and became Melbourne's leading portrait photographer during the 1870s and 1880s. In 1862 he bought out the Duryea and MacDonald Studio and started work as Johnstone and Co. In 1865 the firm became Johnstone, O'Shannessy and Co. with partner Emily O’Shannessy and co-owner George Hasler.
   
  Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co. were Melbourne’s leading portrait photographers whose services were sought by governors, visiting royalty, politicians and other prominent members of society. Johnstone impressed the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Victoria and was appointed to his staff as Royal Photographer.
  Examples of Johnstone, O’Shannessy & Co.’s photographic portraits were included in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1875 and the 1888 Melbourne International Exhibition where the excellence of their work was noted by the judges.
caption: Lady Constance Knox, daughter of the 5th Earl of Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand. 1899
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