I purchased this photo many years ago from an eBay seller in New York state. I've always found it fascinating.
Click on image to see it larger.
The wealthy woman knitting while her three precocious children sit still long enough to be photographed. And who are the two women in the back? Relatives or employees? I have no information as to any of their identities other than the pencil scrawls on the front.
As to the photographer, well, this gets a little interesting. Unlike most photographers who went in for stylish typefaces for their identity this photographer's name, C. S. Piersaull, is barely readable. In no way is he drawing attention to himself or his work. Fortunately President Roosevelt recognized his value.
Over 300 of Mr. Piersaull's photos reside in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. The following from their site:
Who Was Charles Slyvester Piersaull?I also found a book called Hyde Park on the Hudson by Margaret Logan Marquez that contains the page shown below. Click on the title link above to go to the book where you'll see several photos taken by Mr. Piersaull.
Little is known about Charles Sylvester Piersaull. He was born in 1853 and was married to Josephine Susan Aldrich. The local registry lists his occupation as "Fishmonger" and the sign on his house says "FISH MARKET," but he did more than just sell fish. Piersaull served as the local pharmacist, bicycle repairman, and photographer. As a photographer, Charles Piersaull made his mark by leaving a rich visual record of Hyde Park's past. He took hundreds of photographs of the people, buildings, and culture of Hyde Park at the turn of the 20th century. At the time of his death in 1921, Piersaull's pictures were not taken seriously, but when they resurfaced over 20 years later, President Roosevelt immediately saw their value in understanding Hyde Park's history. The photographs were acquired by the FDR Library in 1943. (SOURCE: FDR Library)
Click on image to see it larger.
Too often I find either nothing or very little about a photographer from so long ago. This is a rare find to see both the photographer and his wife.
Either the weeks are getting shorter or Sepia Saturday is starting earlier.
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Hereis a link to some interesting articles about 19th century photography. Not much detail in the way of names but a lot about studios and the various tricks of the trade.Very good if you want some background on how photographers operated.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.billjayonphotography.com/writingsintro.html
LOL. Actually, the days are getting longer.
ReplyDeleteHere;s a link to a whole lot of articles by Bill Jay on 19th century photography. You won't find much in the way of names but loads of information about the ethics and practices - mostly very dubious - that studio photographers got up to and other stuff about the economics that all makes for good reading.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.billjayonphotography.com/writings.html
Great link! Thanks. I've put it in the lint list to the left. There's a lot of information there.
ReplyDeleteHow good to see the man behind the camera as well as the picturesque ladies in front of it.
ReplyDeleteso interesting that you found out so much info about the photographer. How fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fine photograph. And you are so right about those pioneers of early photography, they were such fascinating people.
ReplyDeletethat is amazing to have learned so much about Charles and that he was so accomplished besides being a versatile merchant!
ReplyDeleteMaybe he didn't put much on that photo because they were part of his family, or for a friend? Very interesting information you put together and what a find to have his wife too...that is amazing!
ReplyDeleteNone of the other photos I found done by Piersaull showed his name. That had been cropped off all of them. Perhaps I'll see if I can find anyone from a museum in Hyde Park to ask if this folks look familiar. I have a feeling all of the photos he took were of friends and relatives.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting he put his wife in front of the backdrop and then didn't crop the picture. The Hyde Park shot is beautiful. Imagine wiling away the summer on a porch that is larger than most folks homes!
ReplyDeleteI too thought it strange that the photo of his wife wasn't cropped. It actually looks like a painting with a still life.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fun photograph for details. I appreciate how straight it is - so very unlike many of my family's photographs which were taken askew. Look at the "puff sleeves" of the lady on the left! I don't think they could get any puffier. I noticed the reflection of the lady standing on the right in the window behind here. I wonder if the knitting lady is a grandmother to the little ones or if the younger standing lady could be the knitting lady's daughter. I also think it's interesting how the two children are sitting on the same table or bench, yet the dress of the girl on the right covers part of the child beside her. Is the sitting child on the left a boy or a girl? S/he's wearing a middy, if that tells anything. You'd think that if they were girls and sisters that they'd be wearing similar hats. Oh, for names and a date! Oh, and one more thing. Do you think the ropes hanging on the left are for awnings?
ReplyDeleteI imagine sitting on that porch in the summer was quite wonderful, especially in the evenings. And who knows, perhaps Eleanor Roosevelt came for visits. And I do believe that the ropes hanging down were there to pull down a blind to keep the sun out.
ReplyDeleteI too noticed the silhouette in the window. It adds a bit of mystery.
I have written some letters in hopes of perhaps finding out something about these ladies. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
It really is an interesting photo. I wonder why they didn't get closer to the family, unless they wanted us to be impressed with the porch.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I'm hitting dead ends in trying to find out who these people are. Literally a dead end because the woman who wrote the book about Hyde Park that I linked to is deceased. So I have one more place to write to see if I can get us any closer to finding out who they are. I'm guessing they are going to remain a mystery forever, but I'll give it one more shot.
ReplyDeleteI too was curious that the photograph of the wife wasn't cropped. But, I almost liked seeing it that way because it adds a little realism to it. I envision the couple setting up the living room - trying to figure out how to make the backdrop stay!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Having the draping and image on the wall makes it far more interesting. She almost looks like an Andrew Wyeth painting.
ReplyDelete