Figure 1.--This CDV portrait of three brothers is undated. It looks like it was tken in the 1860s based on the pose and the style of the mount. Although the 1870s is possible, the fact that the boys are wearing plain tunics we think argues more for the 1860s. All three boys seem to be wearing tunics with small white collars and neckwear. The older boy's outfit is less clear, but we think it is also a tunic. Tunics seem to have been quite fashionavle in Britain during the 1860s. We see fewer tunics in America. We are not sure about the color of the tunics, but we would guess either black or dark blue. Notice the snake belts.

This CDV portrait of three brothers is undated. It looks like it was tken in the 1860s based on the pose and the style of the mount. Although the 1870s is possible, the fact that the boys are wearing plain tunics we think argues more for the 1860s. All three boys seem to be wearing tunics with small white collars and neckwear. The older boy's outfit is less clear, but we think it is also a tunic. Tunics seem to have been quite fashionable in Britain during the 1860s. Tunics were more common in the 1850s, but we still see English boys swearing then in the 1860s, We see fewer tunics in America after the 50s. We are not sure about the color of the tunics, but we would guess either black or dark blue. The older boys wear light-color trousers, probably flannel trousers. The younger boy wears dark knee pants that match his tunic. One notable aspect of the portrait is the younger boy's knee pants. They are cut above the knee which was not common in the 1860s. He is holding is hat which looks like a boater with a short streamer. We are not sure what kind of headwear the older boys wore. Notice the snake belts they are wearing. Worn over the tunics, the belts have not practical purpose. They were worn like that for style. This was a militry uniform style. This may have been their school outfits, but we are not positive. The younger boy wears long stockings with his knee pants. We are not sure how they were suspended. Nor are we sure what kind of hosiery the older boys with long trousers are wearing.

Location

The boys are English. The portrait was taken at a Fareham studio. That is a market town along the Channel Coast in between of Southampton and Portsmout.

The Boys

The boys are alnostvsurely brothers. They are unidentified. They look gto be cloise in age, probably about 6-10 years old. Their rather elegant outfits suggest that they camne from a well-to-do family.

Chronology

This CDV portrait of three brothers is undated. It looks like it was tken in the 1860s based on the pose and the style of the mount. Although the 1870s is possible, the fact that the boys are wearing plain tunics we think argues more for the 1860s.

Clothing

All three boys seem to be wearing tunics with small white collars and neckwear. The older boy's outfit is less clear, but we think it is also a tunic. Tunics seem to have been quite fashionable in Britain during the 1860s. Tunics were more common in the 1850s, but we still see English boys swearing then in the 1860s, We see fewer tunics in America after the 50s. We are not sure about the color of the tunics, but we would guess either black or dark blue. The tunics look similar, but there are differences in the buttons and pockets. The older boys wear light-color trousers, probably flannel trousers. The younger boy wears dark knee pants that match his tunic. One notable aspect of the portrait is the younger boy's knee pants. They are cut above the knee which was not common in the 1860s. He is holding is hat which looks like a boater with a short streamer. We are not sure what kind of headwear the older boys wore. Notice the snake belts they are wearing. Worn over the tunics, the belts have not practical purpose. They were worn like that for style. This was a military uniform style. This may have been their school outfits, but we are not positive. The younger boy wears long stockings with his knee pants. We are not sure how they were suspended. Nor are we sure what kind of hosiery the older boys with long trousers are wearing. The older boy does seem to have hose that are about the same color as the younger boy.

Hair Styles

The boys have identical hair styles with left parts. The hair is then combed straight across the head. The hair of the two older boys is woirn fown, slight over the top of their ears.

Created: 10:20 PM 8/16/2008
10:20 PM 8/16/20089:34 PM 8/16/2008