“Woman With Color Applied to Her Hair, Cheeks, Lips, Eyes, & Jewelry”

John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of a “Woman With Color Applied

to her Hair, Cheeks, Lips, Eyes, & Jewelry”

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THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

JOHN QUINCY REED was born in 1841 in Abington, Massachusetts and died in 1902 in Petaluma. He worked as a photographer in Petaluma for over 25 years, moving his studio within the community to several different locations. He arrived into Petaluma from Stockton in 1870 and continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma until at least 1898. Many of his portraits of Petaluma’s citizens are of exceptionally fine quality. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)

THE SITTER:

Name: Unidentified

Description: This head-and-shoulders carte de visite portrays a young woman who glances intently down and to her right. Her brown hair is pulled to the back of her head into a large bun and short, full, curls adorn her forehead. She wears a front-buttoned, dark blouse which is heavily adorned with soutache embroidery. A stiff, lacy, white collar surrounds her neck and a large, matching bow is tied at her throat. At the center of her bow is a large, bright, gold brooch from which appears to fall a gold chain. This portrait has undoubtedly been masterfully tinted by a professional retoucher. The colors have been applied with subtlety and skill creating a greater sense of depth and intimacy. The sitter’s brown hair has been highlighted with gold streaks, her cheeks glow pink, her lips are a matte rose, her eyes shine with just a spot of green-blue, and her gold jewelry sparkles.

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation: The Sonoma County Library owns a portrait identical to this one and identifies the woman as a female member of the Petaluma Farley family. Sonoma County Library Digital Collections Identifier cstr-pho-008728

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: This portrait is contained within a vertical oval. PDF of “Woman with Color Applied…”

Description, back: In the center of the back of this carte de visite is the photographer’s imprint. His name in a simple, all-capitals, font is followed by an unusual designation, “Photographic Artist” which is printed in an ornate font and which is embellished at its beginning and ending with two different flourishes. The location and address follow in completely different fonts: Over Wells, Fargo & Co’s Ex. Office, Main St., Petaluma, Cal.

Date: 1870-1898

Condition: There is slight foxing on the front of this carte de visite.

Owner:  Private Collection, digital copy by permission

Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced.  These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.