The other day I bough a small job lot of Victorian photographs on eBay, and when the parcel arrived there was a broken glass slide within them. It wasn't advertised as part of the original lot so I had no cause for complaint about the breakage; and scanning technology easily allows bits of glass to be sewn back together again. What emerged from the scan was a fabulous old photograph of a Victorian woman holding a book. I wouldn't care to speculate as to the date of the photograph although it must easily be 150 years old. The broach around her neck looks like it has been hand-coloured on the original glass plate. All in all it is a wonderful find and evidence that a lady - who must have been born in the eighteenth century - can still send a pulse of excitement through the tired bones of a twenty first century blogger.
What an exciting 'free gift'.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful find and so much character in the portrait. From your eye- catching title I was expecting a young girl, but I see the woman is not wearing any rings on her left hand, but is that one on her right hand?
ReplyDeleteGreat
ReplyDeleteA real treasure and given to just the right person. ScotSue's observation on the woman's ring made me check the buttons on her dress. I believe you'd scanned the negative in reverse, Alan, as the buttonholes/buttons are oriented as in masculine garb. The open side for feminine buttons should be on her left. In any case it is a remarkably fine portrait and shows a woman who's birth occurred well before the age of photography, maybe 1790s.
ReplyDeleteShe is SO covered up. Makes you think how odd life is now, now that I can dress for comfort and/or warmth/coolth without bothering about conventions. But for centuries of course women in this country would be well covered up just like this woman.
ReplyDeleteLooks more 19th century garb.
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