Featured Antique painted photo - Mayall, London

I came across this today - the case measures 6.5 x 5.5 inches when closed. While looking at it the glass fell out. I wasn’t intending to take it apart but took the opportunity to grab a few photos before gently easing the frame and glass back in. They have obviously been removed before.

The image has been over painted and is rather lovely. I’m terrified of causing any further damage though since it all feels quite fragile!

There’s a sticker on the back but an initial search hasn’t brought anything up for me. I thought the name was ‘Emma Ryde’ but the ‘R’ in Robinson looks different… any ideas?

 

This woman (a hand colored ambrotype) looks very similar, but there are discrepancies in the associated information -

https://www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/2011.5/margaret-robertson/

There is the possibility that the case your image is in is not original to the painting.

 

@2manybooks Thanks for that. And you’re right it could be that the photo and the case don’t belong together, I hadn’t really considered that. I’ll keep searching ad see if I can find anything relating to the name.

 

Here’s the full image without the frame/glass. The paint is crackled (oil? varnish?) and the original colour was protected under the oval frame. Exposed areas have faded. Does anyone know if Mayall used this kind of technique…? Or perhaps it’s been added to the frame as suggested?

 

Well, you've done an internet search for the photographer and discovered he was renowned for his portraits, including that of Queen Victoria?

Debora

 

You'll find some other of his enhanced photographs here.

https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?phrase=john+jabez+edwin+mayall

Debora

 

Thanks @Debora … I’m familiar with Mayall but not with the techniques he might have used. I love those images on the Getty pages!

 

I should add. Treat your piece gently. His work is in museums. That studio opened in 1852 so your earliest date.

Debora

 

Thanks again. I’m honestly worried to touch it now, after first checking it out! And I don’t want the label to fall off… I’ve put it away and will rely on the photos.

 

Pondering this image some more.........

The dress appears to be ca. late 1850s.

It does appear to be a hand colored/enhanced photograph, and appears to be on paper rather than a daguerreotype or ambrotype. At that time period, the only photographic prints on paper would be albumen prints or a "salted paper" (or simply "salt") print.

Distinguishing the two is not always easy. Albumen prints are typically on very thin paper which has been mounted on a heavier stock. The emulsion, made from beaten egg whites, produces a comparatively smooth surface, although in early albumen prints there may be a sort of craquelure effect.

With salted paper prints the fibers of the paper remain visible, and rather than resting on the surface of an emulsion the image appears within the surface layer of the paper.

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/sal... prints exhibit,as coated salted paper prints.