Clarke, (unidentified family member) (b. & d. dates to be determined)

Lafayette F. Sheppard’s Portrait Photograph of an Unidentified member of the Clarke Family

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

LAFAYETTE F. SHEPPARD was born in 1852 in Ohio and died in 1940 in Inglewood, California. He established his photographic gallery in Petaluma in February of 1886, “in the rooms formerly occupied by Lewis Dowe”. It was located at 59 1/2 Main Street next door to the First National Bank Building. Sheppard continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma at least through June of 1891. (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 member of the Clarke Family

Description: This three-quarter head shot portrait of a member of the Clarke Family depicts a handsome young man with carefully groomed, short cut hair and a chevron mustache. He wears a wool, double-breasted jacket with leather piping and high lapels. He has a white, high, banded collar and a neck tie which has a decorative pin attached to its knot.

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation: Clarke Family

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The background to the portrait is a troupe l’oeil which creates the illusion that the portrait is printed on a piece of paper elegantly scrolled on three edges. The photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of the card.

Description, back: Handwritten in pencil in cursive along the top edge the back of this cabinet card is, “Clarke Family”.

Date: February 1886 - 1891

Condition: This cabinet card has light foxing throughout.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1991-IDI-03

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