“Seated Baby With Top Curl”
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of a Seated Baby With Top Curl
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Unlike the other 19th century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived and worked in Petaluma for many years. He arrived in Petaluma in 1855, and in 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived, photographic studio partnership with Elon D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma. It was reported Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he became an invalid in 1888. Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Unidentified
Description: Sitting on Ross’ studio chair propped by its armrest, this unidentified baby gleefully looks directly into the camera. The baby sits frontally with his left knee bent and his legs crossed at his ankles. The blurriness of his left hand suggests he moved slightly out of position. The baby is dressed in a checkered, long-sleeve dress with three strips of dark ribbon surrounding his cuffs and four strips surrounding the bottom section of his dress. Beneath his dress, he wears a white petticoat with a scalloped, crocheted lace hem. In a style popular at the time, his hair is parted on both sides and drawn up into a distinctive curl at the top of his head.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: There are many portraits of Petaluma pioneers’ infants, babies, toddlers, and children, but none surpass the charm of this example. George Ross’ skill is evident in this early example of his work. For Ross’ own comments on photographing children see: Ross PDF
Description, back: George Ross’ imprint appears in the center of the back of this card. Above and below the imprint is a decorative flourish.
Date:
Condition: Both sides of this card are slightly soiled.
Owner: Private collection, digital copy by permission
Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced. These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.