“Teenage Girl in a White Dress With Her Hand on a Book”
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of “A Teenage Girl in a White Dress With her Hand on a Book”
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 SITTERS:
Names: Unidentified
Description: This teenage girl stands beside a Victorian side table with her right hand resting on a book, her index finder extended as if to draw attention to it. Beside the book is a neoclassical style vase with an oval cameo on its lower section. The girl looks out at the viewer with a quiet, self-possessed gaze. Her long, dark, straight hair is center-parted and combed to fall behind her back. A thin, white, handband secures it in place. She wears a white, multi-layered, calf-length, dress and low-heeled, lace-up Victorian boots.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a full-length, standing portrait with a solid gray background and Victorian side table.
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. An expanded, possibly later, version appears here. It is printed in red ink and includes four lines of text, each in a different font. The text is embellished above and below with a horizontally flipped, elaborate flourish.
Date: January 1872 - December 1873
Condition: This carte de visite is soiled and a bit out of focus. It is not possible to read the texture of the girl’s dress.
Owner: The Carol Cook 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.