This photograph by Demers & Son of Holyoke, Massachusetts is a portrait of a very attractive and beautifully dressed couple. Is this the turn of the century version of Brad Pitt and Anjelina Jolie? The photographer of this photograph was from a studio called Demers & Son. The studio was located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Demers & Son was comprised of Jacques Louis Demers ( c1833-1913) and his son Hormisdas Demers. They were French Canadians. “Mudra51”, provides biographical material about the pair on Flickr. Jacques was a French Canadian born in Montreal. He received his education in Montreal and studied portrait painting. He appears in Montreal directories as a working photographer from 1861 through 1875. Jacques came to Holyoke in 1883 and opened a photographic studio. The studio became known as Demers & Son by 1885 and the studio continued to do business until 1920. Jacques retired in 1909 and relocated to Ludlow, Massachusetts. He died there and was buried in Montreal. Hormisdas was born in Quebec, Canada in around 1867. His name, translated from Persian, is “the great wise one”. In 1881, Hormisdas first appears in a Quebec directory as a photographer. He came to Holyoke with his father. After the closure of Demers & Son, he still worked as a photographer and appears in the US census as a photographer through 1930. (SOLD)
This cabinet card photograph captures a lovely couple posing for their portrait. They are very well dressed. Their attire is clearly aimed at keeping warm on a winter day. The couple appears to be affluent. Their clothing, including the young woman’s furs, lead me to that conclusion. The man and woman in this photograph, are displaying a very interesting expression. In my opiniion, they appear to be somewhat amused as they gaze at something or someone they deem a bit odd. Feel free to leave a comment concerning your interpretation of this couple’s facial expressions. This portrait photo was taken at a studio in Venice, Italy. The photographers were Giuseppe and Luitzi Vianelli. An advertisement for the Vianelli Brothers indicates that during their career they had photographed the Royal House’s of Italy, Germany, England, and Greece. The ad also states that the pair had won many photography honors. The ads appeared in publications dating between 1896 and 1899. This cabinet card photo measures about 8″ x 3 3/4″ and is in very good condition (see scans). 
This vintage real photo postcard features a distinguished looking elderly couple posing for a studio photographic portrait. The woman is holding a bouquet of flowers and the man is wearing an awesome massive beard. 
This vintage real photo postcard features a lovely couple posing for their portrait at an unidentified studio. The couple are well dressed and wearing jewelry. This postcard is unusual because the man and woman are holding hands. Private postcards from this era (c 1910’s) seldom showed public displays of attention. I imagine that this couple was so in love that they couldn’t take their hands off each other. At the very least, the man and woman seen in this photo, were unconventional. This postcard is in of French origin. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 