carte-de-visite photograph

Southwell Brothers

Summary

Full length studio portrait of a young woman set against a trompe l'oeil background of a classical interior with arches, columns and bas relief decorative panels. The floor is faintly patterned. There is an ornately carved desk on the left of the scene on which rests a pile of closed books. There is a solid balustrade with decorative detail on the right hand side of the scene. The woman rests her right hand on the desk. The woman's hair is arranged in a centre parting with a plaited chignon at the back of her head. She is wearing drop earrings. She is wearing a white dress with a high collar and full sleeves and skirt. Above this she is wearing a delicate dark coloured lace shawl fastened at the collar. In her left hand she is holding a dark coloured hat trimmed with paler coloured feathers.