The Royal Lens: The Life and Legacy of Alexander Bassano In the heart of Victorian London, amidst the bustling energy of Regent Street, a new kind of artistry was beginning to emerge—one that sought to freeze time through the alchemy of light and chemistry. Alexander Bassano, born Alessandro Bassano in 1829, was a central figure in this photographic revolution. The son of an Italian immigrant, Bassano’s journey from the child of a London fishmonger to the preferred portraitist of the British monarchy is a quintessential Victorian success story. His early life was steeped in the fine arts; nu…