carte-de-visite photograph

Summary

Full-length studio portrait of a standing woman against a trompe l'oeil painted background of a pastoral scene. The photograph is a profile view of the woman, who faces to the left of the image. The floor covering is patterned with a series of square or diamond motifs. The woman's hair is pulled back into a chignon and she is wearing a black hat trimmed with a white ostrich feather and a white, dotted lace veil, which is pulled down to cover her face. The woman looks downwards and her eyes may be closed. She is wearing a black velvet paletot with embroidery detail at the cuffs and along the edge of the opening. Beneath this, a white lace collar is visible and a pale-coloured, full skirt featuring a geometric pattern of circular motifs and a gathered trim, above a deep hem of slightly differently patterned material. In her left hand, the woman is holding a small basket of flowers.