Tomasini, Louis (1845-1899)(1 of 2)
/Bradley & Rulofson Studio Portrait photograph of Louis Tomasini
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographic Studio: Bradley & Rulofson, 429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California. Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) opened a photographic studio in San Francisco in 1850 and in 1860 took on his partner William Rulofson (1826-1876). Their studio was considered by many to be the best in California. Bradley retired in 1878.
THE SITTER:
Name: Louis Tomasini
Description: In this head-and-shoulder portrait, Louis Tomasini, with a neutral facial expression, looks to his left. His dark hair is side-parted and combed to the back of his head, and his walrus mustache is carefully groomed. He wears a jacket with pointed lapels, a white, high-neck, collared shirt and a dark bow tie.
Biographical Note: Louis Tomasini learned the skills of a dairymen in his native Switzerland, and emigrated to California in 1864. He was a tenant dairyman at the Burdell Ranch in Marin County and later resided at the DeMartin ranch in Chileno Valley. In 1880, he married Rosalia (Rosalie) DeMartin, the only daughter of wealthy and influential Marin County dairyman, Andrew DeMartin. Tomasini eventually became a very successful businessman and landowner, helping to establish and serving on the board of directors of the Dairymen’s Union. Sometime after his marriage, he and his wife built a fashionable home in Petaluma on Kentucky Street. She died in 1887 at the age of 23 after giving birth to three children. He died in 1899 at age 53, leaving the guardianship of his minor children to his brother, Matteo Tomasini also of Petaluma.
Family Affiliation: Louis Tomasini’s brother was Matteo Tomasini; his wife was Rosalia (Rosalie) DeMartin Tomasini; and his three children were Juliet, Lila and Waldo.
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.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil, along the right edge of the card is, “Louis Tomasini”. In the center of the card in brown print is the large and elaborate imprint of the very fashionable San Francisco studio, Bradley & Rulofson, originally owned and run by photographers Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) and William Herman Rulofson (1826-1878).
Date: 1873-1878
Condition: This carte de visite is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1994-633-37
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