“Apprehensive Woman Holding a Disgruntled Child”
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of an “Apprehensive Woman HOlding a
Disgruntled 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: In this double portrait, a young seated woman clutches a young girl on her lap. The woman looks at the photographer apprehensively as if to inform him that she is not certain the child will remain still. The woman’s dark hair is center-parted, pulled behind her ears, and allowed to fall behind her back. She wears a thin headband as well as a braid or ribbon at the crown of her head. Her dress is embellished with a white collar and cuffs. The skirt of her dress is double-layered, and its hem is ruffled. The child leans back and stares into the distance with a disgruntled demeanor. Her feet dangle in the center front of the composition, and she holds an indistinguishable object in both hands. She wears a dark dress with extensive ruffling, white stockings, and dark, lace-up boots.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This double portrait is contained within a vertical oval, and its backdrop displays an interior scene with elaborate architectural details.
Description, back:
Date:
Condition: This carte de visite is lightly soiled throughout.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2022-952-01-pg30a, Schwobeda/Bloom/Taylor/DeMartin Family & Friends 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.