DREAMY SISTERS IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

dreamy sisters

Two adorable young sisters dreamily look at the camera as they pose for their photograph at Lee Brothers studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interestingly, both were given different gaze points by the photographer. The girls are wearing flower print dresses as well as earrings. Incredibly, the Lee Brothers studio remains in business today. The studio was founded by Thorwald Lee in 1889 and he operated it through the 1940’s. The business stayed in the Lee family until the early 1960’s. Thorwald’s brother (Peder) ran a photography studio in St. Paul from 1919 through 1927. Thorwald Lee was born in Norway and initially worked as a sailor. A age 22 he came to the United States and after a years stint as a railroad worker, he opened his photography studio.  The studio is currently in an old Victorian home at 2601 Portland Avenue in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Historiacal Society has a collection of Lee Brother’s photographs. To view more photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Lee Brothers”.

 

Published in: on December 6, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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FAMOUS NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN SCULPTOR: JAKOB FJELDE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA (CABINET CARD PORTRAIT)

 

norway

This cabinet card portrait features famous Norwegian-American sculptor Jakob Fjelde (1855-1896). Fjelde is wearing an interesting overcoat with embroidery on it’s shoulders. Perhaps this is a coat that he wore while creating his sculpture. He has a attractive bushy mustache and is holding a half smoked cigar. Fjelde was born in Alesund, Norway and arrived in the United States in 1887. He settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the father of sculptor Paul Fjelde and brother of artist Pauline Fjelde. Jakob was a prolific portraitist and created a number of public monuments. One of his most well known monuments was one dedicated to the 1st Minnesota Infantry (1897) that is located at the Gettysburg battlefield. Some of his statues in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area include “Hiawatha carrying Minnehaha”, “Minerva”, and “Ole Bull”. In 1885 he sculpted Henrik Ibsen from life and created a number of public statues and busts from the experience. The photographer of this image is the Lee Brothers who operated a studio in Minneapolis. To view more photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Lee Bros.”

 

Published in: on January 8, 2015 at 3:27 pm  Comments (1)  
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