“Two Standing Young Boys”
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of “two standing young Boys”
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 19th 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 Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he became an invalid 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: The composition of this double portrait is masterful. Two young boys, who are probably brothers, stand separated by a pedestal table but are intimately connected by the placement of their proximal hands upon the table’s top. Their hands form a tertiary focal point and an elegant anatomical arrangement. The boys’ distal hands, which lay loose at their sides, echo each other serving as parenthesis on the right and left center of the portrait. The older, significantly taller boy has been placed on the left, and his right leg has been positioned to enclose the bottom half of the composition and to display the elaborate embroidery on his pant leg. This boy exudes intense consternation, which clearly reveals his state of mind. One concludes that he is deeply disturbed by the process of having his portrait taken and is quite possibly unaccustomed to his attire. On the other end of the spectrum is the younger child, who appears completely comfortable and maybe even a bit bored. He casually crosses his right leg over his left and places the toe of his shoe on the floor. His attire reflects a distinct trend fashionable around the time of the civil war which mimicked the details typical of military uniforms.
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: Behind the young boys in this double portrait is a blank wall with a tall dado. Both boys lean on a small pedestal table covered with a bordered, floral textile.
Description, back: The back of this carte de visite contains an early version of George Ross’ imprint. It is printed in red ink in four lines of text. Each line of text is in a different font. Surrounding the text on all four sides is an elaborate ivy garland.
Date: 1862 - c. 1870
Condition: There is light foxing in the top center section of this carte de visite.
Owner: Pete Vilmur 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.