Post by Snappersforum on Oct 9, 2013 21:27:21 GMT
Haunting photographs of the dead taken in Victorian age shows fad for relatives posing alongside bodies of their dearly departed
The invention of the daguerreotype - the earliest photographic process - in 1839 brought portraiture to the masses Enabled the middle classes to have affordable keepsake of their dead family members
Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffin
This particular style, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe, but less so in the United States
It was far cheaper and quicker than commissioning a painted portrait and it enabled the middle classes to have an affordable, cherished keepsake of their dead family members.
Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffin.
This particular style, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe but less so in the United States.
However, in others, they were made to look like they were in a deep sleep or even life-like as they were positioned next to family members.
It was an age of high infant mortality rates - and children were often shown in repose on a couch or in a crib, while adults were more commonly posed in chairs.
Sometimes the subject's eyes were propped open or the pupils were painted onto the print to give the effect they were alive.
In early images, a rosy tint was added to the cheeks of corpses.
By the early 20th century, the practice fell out of fashion as photos became more commonplace with the arrival of the snapshot.
By Jill Reilly
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2450832/Victorian-photographs-relatives-posing-alongside-dead-bodies.html#ixzz2hGKR14N8
The invention of the daguerreotype - the earliest photographic process - in 1839 brought portraiture to the masses Enabled the middle classes to have affordable keepsake of their dead family members
Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffin
This particular style, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe, but less so in the United States
It was far cheaper and quicker than commissioning a painted portrait and it enabled the middle classes to have an affordable, cherished keepsake of their dead family members.
Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffin.
This particular style, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe but less so in the United States.
However, in others, they were made to look like they were in a deep sleep or even life-like as they were positioned next to family members.
It was an age of high infant mortality rates - and children were often shown in repose on a couch or in a crib, while adults were more commonly posed in chairs.
Sometimes the subject's eyes were propped open or the pupils were painted onto the print to give the effect they were alive.
In early images, a rosy tint was added to the cheeks of corpses.
By the early 20th century, the practice fell out of fashion as photos became more commonplace with the arrival of the snapshot.
By Jill Reilly
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2450832/Victorian-photographs-relatives-posing-alongside-dead-bodies.html#ixzz2hGKR14N8