“Standing Man With Seated Woman and Child”
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of “Standing man with seated woman and Child”
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 nineteenth 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 that Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he developed a disability 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 SITTERS:
Names: Unidentified
Description: This carte de visite appears to be a family portrait depicting father, mother and young daughter. The man stands on the left dressed in a light-colored three-piece suit and a white shirt with a bowtie. The woman sits on the right attired in a dark dress with a hoop skirt. The child sits in the center. She is blond and wears a calf-length dress with vertical trim on the bodice and a bold border on the hem of her skirt.
It is possible that both the man and the child are deceased. That this may be a postmortem photograph is supported by the man’s and child’s limp appearance. The man’s body is supported by a wooden prop the feet of which can be seen on either side of his shoes. The woman leans to her right placing her face next to the child’s while supporting the child with her shoulder and right arm. The eyes of both the man and child appear dull and empty while the expression of the woman appears forlorn and resigned.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This three person portrait is unusual and stark. With the exception of the floor molding, it contains no background. With the exception of the textile draped table upon which the child sits, there are no props and no floor covering.
Description, back: In the center back of this carte de visite is an early version of George Ross’ imprint.
Date: This carte de visite post probably dates between 1862 and the 1870s.
Condition: This carte de visite is heavily soiled with a large black stain in the upper right. All four corners have been slightly clipped.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2005-115-48
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.