Figure 1.--This cabinet portrait of Sydney Cowell shows him as a choir boy or alter boy. I am not sure if it is possible to destinguish between the two. He is probably Catholic, but an English name like Cowell raises the possibility that he is Anglican. Or could he be a Protestant chorister. There was a substanial interest in boy church choirs in the late-19th century. The portrait is undated, but the nount is the new style appearing at the tun of the century, so the portrait was probably taken in the 1900s. The studio backdrop is a stained class window.

This cabinet portrait of Sydney Cowell shows him as a choir boy or alter boy. I am not sure if it is possible to destinguish between the two. As he is pictured holding a book, we suspect that he is a chorister. He is probably Catholic, but an English name like Cowell raises the possibility that he is Anglican. Or he could be a Protestant chorister. There was a substanial interest in boy church choirs in the late-19th century and very early-20th century. The portrait is undated, but the nount is the new style appearing at the tun of the century, so the portrait was probably taken in the 1900s. The studio backdrop is a stained class window. He looks to be about 12-13 years old.

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Created: 7:37 PM 5/29/2010
Last edited: 7:37 PM 5/29/2010