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Here we have a comfortable middle-class New York family. We know that becuse both children have tricycles and the family has a maid. Having help in the 1900s decade was not a sign of wealth, but it does indicate the family lived in comfortable circumstances. We see both children on trikes even though the girls is older than the boy. She is on what might be seen as a girl's mmodel. The portrait was taken outside their New York City home with their maid Gussie whiose duties appraently included looking after the children. Unfortunately the potrait is undated. Mounts are useful in dating these old photographs. The cabinet card mount was one of the new styles,wgich would mean that the portrait was taken in the early-1900s decade. Yet the dress styles look more likeabout 1895. The Cabinet card was 8.5 x 6.5 in; image size: 6.25 x 4.75 inches. The photographr's studio imprint stamped on verso, indicating "Yard of Perry St. House." We are not sure what that meant. These stramped imprints were not common in the 1890s. Given how nicely posed the image is, we suspect the studio sent out a phothtraphers to the home. Incliding a maid in the potrait is also interesting. Most families did not do this. The boy looks to be about 5 years old and wears a rather plain sailor blouse with Fauntleroy ringlet curls. The Faunteroy style including ringlets was declining in popularity, but we continue tp see exmaples in the early-1900s. The girl looks to be wearing a pinafore and proudly holds her doll. The studio was the Instantaneous Photo. View Co.
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