“Young Girl Attired in a Ruffled Dress Holding a Doll”
/Lewis Dowe’s Portrait Photograph of a “young girl attired in a ruffled dress holding a doll”
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LEWIS DOWE was born in 1838 in Hanover, New Hampshire and died in 1919 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Petaluma in September of 1875 and set up his photography studio in the rooms formerly occupied by photographer Hugh Anderson. Dowe worked in Petaluma as both a “view” and portrait photographer until he departed the town in March of 1882. (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: In this carte de visite, a young girl sits in a studio chair, her right forearm and hand resting on its fringed single arm. Her legs are crossed at her ankles while her feet adorably dangle above the floor. With a matter-of-fact demeanor, she looks directly at the viewer. In her left arm, she holds a doll that has been allowed to flop backward, its legs and feet projecting from under its long, white dress. The little girl wears a below-the-knee dress with pleats and ruffles at the neck, wrists, and hem. She wears white leggings and Mary Jane shoes. Around her neck is a small, stiff, white collar and a distinctive necklace of white beads. Her hair is center parted and set behind her ears by a dark headband topped with white embellishments.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: A fringed studio chair and floral carpet appear in this portrait.
Description, back: In the center of the back of this carte de visite, Lewis Dowe’s four line imprint has been printed on the diagonal.
Date: September 1875 - March 1882
Condition: This carte de visite is in good condition.
Owner: Pete Vilmur 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.