photographs
1880s Portrait of a Victorian Man Drawn over a Studio Photograph
Hand-colored/articulated portrait of a man ca. 1880s, with a mild expression and blushing ever so slightly--this appears at first to be a drawing, but it is actually a cabinet photograph that has been painted over (to charming effect). The photographic image is faint but visible primarily in the overgrown mouth area and with the eyes.
The drawing/painting is contemporary to the photograph, not a modern alteration. Because the developed print was so faint, the portrait was in essence "salvaged" by painting over the trace image. Adding color to photographs (like the faint rouge on his cheeks) was not an uncommon practice, though it is less common to find one with this degree of overpainting--but just look at the whispy fade of his jacket! A lovely embellishment.
Piece measures 8 x 10, with portrait framed by 3 layers of pleasingly distressed matting--including brown flocking and gold die-cut edges. Aside from a faint crack on the left side, the image itself is in nice condition.
The drawing/painting is contemporary to the photograph, not a modern alteration. Because the developed print was so faint, the portrait was in essence "salvaged" by painting over the trace image. Adding color to photographs (like the faint rouge on his cheeks) was not an uncommon practice, though it is less common to find one with this degree of overpainting--but just look at the whispy fade of his jacket! A lovely embellishment.
Piece measures 8 x 10, with portrait framed by 3 layers of pleasingly distressed matting--including brown flocking and gold die-cut edges. Aside from a faint crack on the left side, the image itself is in nice condition.