“Young Woman With Elaborately Crimped Coiffure”
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of “A Young Woman With An Elaborately Crimped Coiffure”
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HUGH S. ANDERSON was born in 1826 in Scotland and died in 1900 in San Francisco, California. He was active in Petaluma as early as January 1872, and he departed Petaluma in December 1873. His Sunbeam Gallery was located, “At the Old Stand, Opposite H. C. Taft & Co.’s”. (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: This is a three-quarter length portrait of a young woman seated in a fringed arm studio chair. It would seem she is dressed for a very special occasion. Her long hair flowing down each shoulder has been crimped to create a repeated wavy. Short, tight curls rest on her forehead and a high pompadour is crowned with a spray of white flowers. A corsage of white flowers is pinned on the left side of her long basque jacket. Knife pleats decorate the collar and cuffs of her jacket which is cinched at her waist with a belt and jeweled buckle. She wears a short necklace and a ring on her left index finger.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation: The original of this portrait remains as donated to the PHL&M in the vintage McCleave Family album.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: In this carte de visite, the young woman sits in front of a backdrop seen in other Hugh Anderson portraits. The doric column and floor molding can be seen in the left edge of the composition.
Description, back: Hugh Anderson’s imprint is on the center of the back of this carte de visite. Anderson created several versions of his Petaluma imprint. A simpler, possibly earlier, version appears here. It is printed in black ink and includes only three lines of text, each in a different font. Horizontally flipped, elaborate flourishes surround the text.
Date: January 1872 - December 1873
Condition: This portrait is soiled, but the focus and composition is exceptionally fine.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2004-315-03-p46-p46, McCleave Family album
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.