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A portrait of 'Miss Nellie Nesbit'

London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company

1870

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

A portrait of 'Miss Nellie Nesbit' is a 1870 photographic by London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company
When & what style?: 1870 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a black-and-white photo of a young woman sitting sideways on a chair. She’s wearing a fancy white dress with lace trim and a big, fluffy headpiece. One hand rests on her chin, and she looks thoughtful. The background is plain, so the focus is just on her. The photo was taken by a company that made 3D images back then. That’s why it looks a little stiff and posed. Want to see more old photos like this? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

A carte-de-visite from 1870 portrays Miss Nellie Nesbit, a burlesque actress, in a half-length portrait wearing a light-colored dress and a feathered hat. She leans on a stand with her right hand touching her chin, her gaze directed to the right. The photograph is part of the Windsor Collection, previously held at Windsor Castle.

Read the full account in the museum source.