Figure 1.--This unhappy looking Australian boy wear ringlet curls with what appears to be front buttoning belted-dress with Fauntleroy styling. The front of the hair was not done in bangs as was common in America. Note the cap on the ground to his right. Strangely for such a formal outfit, the boy looks to be in the middle of a forrest with his tricycle. The portrait is dated only as the 1890s. The image is from the collection of the National Archive of Australia (an2477079-v). |
This unhappy looking Australian boy wear ringlet curls with what appears to be front buttoning belted-dress with Fauntleroy styling. The front of the hair was not done in bangs as was common in America. Note the cap on the ground to his right. Strangely for such a formal outfit, the boy looks to be in the middle of a forrest with his tricycle. The portrait is dated only as the 1890s.
The Australian National Library informs us that the portrait was taken in the 1890s, but prvides no additional information.
We do not know where the portrait was taken other than in Australia. Hopefully our Australian readers can with the backgrund scenery suggest where the portrait was taken.
The boy looks to be about 4-5 years of age.
No information is avilable on the name of this boy. Despite the surrondings, we believe that he came from a prosperous family. The elegant dress suggests this and even more his elaborate ringlets. The fact he has a tricycle also indicates a well-to-do family, unless it belongs to the photographer. Sich trucucles were quite expensive in real terms and only families with comfortable circumstances could afford to buy one for a child.
The prop used here is the tricycle. Note the metal wheels. It must have been the boy's prize possession, it it did not belong to the photographer. Note that it is being used to steady the boy as he posed. In other images taken by this or similar photographers, a chir was used.
This boy wears several different garments illustrating late-19th century fashions.
A cap went with the outfit, but the boy took it off for the portrait. Undoubtedly his mother did not want anything to hide the glorious curls that she must have worked hours to get just right. Even so, his cap can be seen on the ground to his right. It seems to be some kind of large peaked cap. I have not noted anything quite like it before.
HBC is not sure if the boy iswearing a blouse or that the colar and cuffs are pinned on. Whichever, he has an elaborate, enormous lace collar with matching cuffs.
A relatively small bow is almost covered by the collar but it is visible and seems to have a pattern.
We note some dresses worn in the late 19th century that look rather like the tunics that were also popular in America at the time. Presimably this was also an English fashion, but we have less information about English tunics at the time. The tunic-looking garments buttoned in front and thus have to be considered dresses rather than tunics. The belt appears to be an actual leather belt with buckle. Note that if there are trousers the tunic reaches below hos knees and this cover them up. I do not think the dress is black but rather some dark shade that looks black in a black and white photograph.
The boy wears black three-quarter socks. One HBC reader suggests that wears long stockings that match the color of the tunic and that the shadows may be creating the look of socks over the stockings. HBC thinks, however, that this is unlikely and ot just the dark surroundings that ptrevent skon tones from appderaing on his legs.
The shoes appear to be single strap shoes in black. The strap button appears to be in the middle of the strap.
The boy wears an elaborate ringlet curl hairstyle. Notice the dual part and top barrel curls as well as the more traditional ringlet curls at the side.
This is a portrait by a professional itinerate photographer taken in the woods. This boy is so immaculately attired that HBC finds it somewhat surprising that he would be photographed in the middle of the a forrest. He seems ready to attend a fancy party or meet his mother's friends invited over for tea in an elegant parlor.
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