“Young Girl Attired in a Dark-Colored Dress and Flounced Apron”
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of a “Young Girl Attired in a Dark-Colored Dress and Flounced Apron”
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. This girl may be a sister or relative of the girl in the portrait entitled, “Young Girl in a Light-Colored Dress and Flounced Apron”. The portraits come from the same family photograph album, and they appear to be wearing the same apron. Additionally, they sit in the same chair, strike the same pose and rest their feet on the same prop.
Description: This is an exceptional fine and representative portrait of a little girl from the 1870s. Exuding a sense of self possession and ease, she sits formally in a fringed studio chair, her left arm on the armrest, and her right hand in her lap. She crosses her ankles and rests her feet on a stool. Striking a pose that is surprisingly regal, she appears as a miniature monarch. She gazes directly at the viewer with a solemn expression. Her hair has been center-parted, curled and restrained by a headband that terminates in a bow at the top of her head. She wears a dark-colored dress with a ban of scalloped trim at the hem and white trim at the collar and cuffs. Over her dress is a short apron with a flounced hem and shoulders straps. She wears a metal necklace which terminates in circular pendant that may be a locket.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front:
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: Although lightly soiled on both sides, this carte de visite is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, Schwobeda/Bloom/Taylor/DeMartin Family & Friends Album, 2022-952-01-39a
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.