Viscountess Jocelyn

British, 1820 - 1880

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We look toward the far end of a large, well-appointed room at a person reading in an armchair and a woman wearing a long dress standing in front of a fireplace in this horizontal photograph. The image is monochromatic like a black and white photograph but is printed in warm tones of golden and dark browns. Both people have light skin. An expanse of carpet patterned with light flowers against a dark background stretches from where we are to the opposite end of the room. Furniture lines the walls to either side of us, including a desk to our left and a tall cabinet to our right. The scene is lit by ceiling-high windows or doors along the wall to our left. Two armchairs, a chaise, a loveseat, and a sofa, all covered with fabric patterned with dark roses against a light background, are arranged at the far end of the room. A person with short dark hair, wearing a light suit, sits facing away from us, reading a book in an armchair to our left. One hand rests up by the ear we can see, brushing the smooth cheek. The woman standing at the fireplace, facing away from us, wears a white cap on dark hair, and a floor-length, dark dress. The dress has a high, white collar and white cuffs at the end of long sleeves. It is belted at the narrow waist and falls in deep folds, in a wide A-line to the floor. The mantle is lined with a clock and figurines under glass cases. The large, ornately framed mirror fills the height of the wall between the fireplace and the ceiling, which is lined with molding. Other tables set against walls and in front of some of the seating is topped with pictures, figurines, books, plants, and lamps. Cases with small tchotchkes hang on the wall to either side of the large mirror, and other plaques and pictures hang on the walls. The mirror reflects a sliver of the standing woman’s face, showing downcast or closed eyes, a rounded nose, and closed lips. The wall behind us is also reflected in the large mirror, and shows more hanging pictures.
Viscountess Jocelyn, Interior of Room, c. 1862, albumen silver print, R. K. Mellon Family Foundation, 2008.60.1

Interior of Room

Viscountess Jocelyn · c. 1862 · albumen silver print ·  Accession ID  2008.60.1