Studio portrait of a young woman, possibly of Polynesian heritage. Melbourne, circa 1890.

A$100 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Albumen print photograph, cabinet card format, 163 x 113 mm (gilt-edged mount), recto of mount with imprint of Stewart Co., 42 Bourke St. East, Melbourne ; the original decorative tissue guard is still attached at top edge; the print and mount are in superb condition, while the tissue guard has a few spots of foxing, but is intact. A stunning full-length portrait taken in the Stewart Co. studio at the top end of Bourke Street, around 1890. The young woman s facial features suggest she may be of Polynesian (Samoan?) heritage. The beautiful Stewart Co. tissue guard is a delicate and rare survivor. It has a vignette illustration at centre that features a woman in Classical Greek attire painting a self-portrait probably a depiction of Athena, goddess of the arts. To her left is a camera on a tripod, and two Greek pottery vessels stand on a table to her right. The tissue was lithographically printed by Percy Lund Co., Bradford. Note that the address has been misinterpreted by the English printer, so that it reads Bourke St., East Melbourne instead of Bourke St. East, Melbourne .

• Binding: Hardcover

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