Lady Hawarden has posed her daughters in fancy dress. One daughter is clothed in the style of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–87). She looks demurely downwards as she is serenaded by the other daughter, who is dressed in breeches and holds a guitar. Diagonal bands of shadow on the wall behind echo the line of the guitar. Other patterns of light and shade enclose the two figures.
Physical description
Sepia photograph, mounted on green card, shiwing two young women in fancy dress, one holding a guitar.
5 Princes Gardens, interior: first floor, front: left window: screen: floor-boards: Clementina (right profile), in fancy dress (breeches), kneeling, holding a guitar, and Isabella Grace, in fancy dress (Mary Queen of Scots style), eyes down, seated, hands clasped in lap. Blanket on floor on left.
Place of Origin
South Kensington, England (photographed)
Date
ca. 1863-1864 (photographed)
Artist/maker
Clementina, Lady Hawarden, born 1822 - died 1865 (photographer)
Materials and Techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion negative
Dimensions
Height: 24.1 cm, Width: 28.4 cm
Historical context note
From departmental notes
'Clementina, Lady Hawarden (Untitled) Photographic Study (or) Study from Life (D.713) c.1863-c.1864 5 Princes Gardens, interior: first floor, front: left window: screen: floor-boards: Clementina (right profile), in fancy dress (breeches), kneeling, holding a guitar, and Isabella Grace, in fancy dress (Mary Queen of Scots style), eyes down, seated, hands clasped in lap. Blanket on floor on left. Inscription (verso): indecipherable ?number Inscription (verso of mount): (X614-)156 241 x 284 mm PH 287-1947 Literature: Microfilm: 3.18.65This tableau is reminiscent of historical genre paintings showing Mary, Queen of Scots listening to one of her attendants, Chatelard or Rizzio, play the lute. An example is Henry Joseph Fradelle's painting Chatelar Playing the Lute to Mary, Queen of Scots (1821) [reproduced in Martin Meiser;ÂRealizations-,-princeton, New Jersey 1983, 245, fig. 101].'
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Literature: Microfilm: 3.18.65
Production Note
Reason For Production: Exhibition
Reason For Production: Retail
Materials
Photograph
Techniques
Albumen process
Subjects depicted
Hats; Fancy dress; South Kensington; Maude, Clementina; Guitar; Maude, Isabella Grace
Categories
Portraits; Photographs
Production Type
Unlimited edition
Collection code
PDP
