Maine Catholic Children: Individuals


Figure 1.-- The first is of two boys standing while they each hold large altar candles. I think this means that they were Catholic, perhaps doing their First Communion. This is one of the earliest such imges archived on HBC. They also hold gutta percha holy prayer books. Presumably they are brothers. Notice the stocks (neckwear) and how modern the haircuts look.

The Case contains two tintype portraits. Unfortunately neither is identified. The first is of two boys standing while they each hold large altar candles. I think this means that they were Catholic, perhaps doing their First Communion. They also hold gutta percha holy prayer books. Presumably they are brothers. The owner tells us that the second image is "an altar boy sitting relaxed and peaceful with his hands folded. He wears a skull cap and holy robes of silk and velvet." We wonder if the child may be a girl wearing a fancy dress. We don't see a scull cap, but rather a curious hair style. We are not sure who this child is and the relationship to the two boys. These portraits are especially interesting, because it is one of the earliest photographic images we have of boys with a religious theme. We suspect that the boys are Catholic, perhaps doing their First Communion. As the portraits appear to be from Maine, the boys may be of French Canadian origins.

Two Brothers

The first is of two boys standing while they each hold large altar candles. I think this means that they were Catholic, perhaps doing their First Communion. Candles were very commonly used in First Communion portaits. We do not have other mid-10th century images to compare this to, but we do note candels being commonly used in Catholic portraits at the turn-of-the 20th century. They also hold gutta percha holy prayer books. Presumably they are brothers. The fact that they are photogeaphed together and dressed similarly strongly suggests that they are brother. They look quite a bit different though. While their suits at first look identical, note that the lapels are different. Both are worn with vests (waistcoats). Both boys have stocks (neckwear), bit the boy on the left has allowed his to fall out of place somewhat.

Single Child

We are not sure who the child is in the single portrait. The owner tells us that the second image is "an altar boy sitting relaxed and peaceful with his hands folded. He wears a skull cap and holy robes of silk and velvet." We wonder if the child may be a girl wearing a fancy dress. The garment does not look like religious vestments to me. We don't see a scull cap, but rather a curious hair style. We are not sure who this child is, but there must be a relationship to the two boys.

First Communion

These portraits are especially interesting, because it is one of the earliest photographic images we have of boys with a religious theme. We suspect that the boys are Catholic, perhaps doing their First Communion. As the portraits appear to be from Maine, the boys may be of French Canadian origins.






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Created: 8:46 PM 11/13/2005
Last updated: 8:46 PM 11/13/2005