u/WilderCountry

I’ve been really loving finding interesting cabinet cards recently which has been a great break from my CDV collection. This one was gifted to me in March by my love as I mentioned I really wanted more theatrical portraits for my growing cabinet card section.

Believed to be a portrait of a costumed gentleman taken in Paterson’s Photography studio in Glasgow Scotland, the Victorians during the 1880’s and 1890’s absolutely loved a fancy dress ball, or even dressing up as theatrical and historical figures. This portrait definitely inspires themes of The Ace of Spades, a personification of the playing card that could be from a party, a theatrical performance or even a gathering like a masquerade ball or large social event.

I’m really drawn to the costume design choices here, with the ruffles and rococo style elements giving this almost romantic style.

Found another fascinating Cabinet Card recently after falling in love with collecting theatrical portraits during the last half of the 19th Century.

This lovely lady was taken at the Hartley Bros Studio on 2 South Road, Waterloo Liverpool which was a prosperous area for middle and upper class families wanting to get professional portraits done.

The Victorians during the late 1880’s and 1890’s were absolutely obsessed with fancy dress balls, making them the sort after social event that let creativity escape the rigid social etiquette of the time. Dressed up as Ancient Greek and Mythological characters and historical figures were very common at these parties.

This portrait, by the many floral details and adorned crown, is most likely linked to Flora, the Roman goddess of Spring. I researched the type of dress she was wearing, and if I’m not mistaken, the type of sleeves worn (sometimes called Leg-o-Mutton Sleeves or gigot sleeves) became very popular in the 1890’s which prompted my estimated date of this cabinet card to this timeframe.