Figure 1.-- This is a cased tintype which helps to date the portrait to the late-1850s. The early-1860s is possible. We see mom and dad with their young son. Most portraists woyldhave placed the boy in the center. Here we suspect that moher wanted to be in the center. The body language suggests a close knit family. We always wonder in these portraits to what extent the body lanhug is posed or nturally occurs. Dad has his hand behind mother's back and the boy has slipped his hand under mother's arm.

Here we see portait of a family with a young son who looks tp be about 5-6 years old. We have trouble dating the early photographic types, especially Dags as they were common in both the 1840s and 50s. The dealer tells us this portrait is a tintype. Given that it was cased, that almost certainly places it in the mid- to late-50s, although the early-60s is possible. We think the 50s is more likely We see mom and dad with their young son. Most portraists would have placed the boy in the center. Here we suspect that moher wanted to be in the center. The body language suggests a close knit family. We always wonder in these portraits to what extent the body language is posed or naturally occurs. Dad has his hand behind mother's back and the boy has slipped his hand under mother's arm. Fatherwears a suit with a cravatt. Mother wears a voluminous dress with a lace collar and hair ribbons. The little boy seems a little worried. He wears a white collar and collar buttoning jacket cut rather like a short tunic. We notice two brothers in New Zealand wearing similar shirt tops only tunics. We see other American boys wearing similar tops, but often with with shirt fabric rather than suiting. A good example is a boy with his sisters. Unlike many early portraits, their hair is well combed. Notice the hair styles, the father's hair over his ears, the mother's very controlled bun and ribbons, and the boys hair combed to one side.

Created: 1:27 AM 11/27/2017
Last updated: 10:14 AM 1/26/2020