“Girl Wearing a Tiara and Large Neck Scarf (1 of 2)”
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of a “Girl Wearing a Tiara and Large Neck Scarf (1 of 2)”
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 carte de visite portrays a young girl with disheveled, shoulder-length, center-parted, hair the front section of which has been pulled up and draped on either side of her forehead by a headband. At the top of her headband is a decoration which serves as a tiara, a hair ornament traditionally seen on the heads of aristocratic women. The crowning effect of the tiara on the head of this young girl creates a delightfully appealing image. The girl wears a simple front-buttoned dress and a large, white, neck, scarf. Also around her neck appears a locket hanging from a black, cloth, choker. See this carte de visite’s companion portrait, “Girl Wearing a Tiara and Large Neck Scarf (2 of 2)”. In these two portraits, the young girls’ attire is almost identical. A notable exception is the pair of pendant earrings worn by the other sitter. Given their appearance and the similarity of their distinctive, deep-set, almond-shaped eyes, it is not unreasonable to conclude the two girls may be sisters.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This portrait is contained within a vertical oval and the surrounding area has a marbleized design.
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: There is slight foxing throughout this portrait and a stain on the center left.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-666-29
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.