PORTRAIT OF A TEENAGE GIRL IN MONTREAL, CANADA

montreal girl_0003A girl, who appears to be a teenager, poses for her portrait at the studio of L. E. Desmarais & Cie in Montreal, Canada. The street address of the studio was 17 St. Laurent. L. E. Desmarais was listed in a number of Montreal city directories between 1870 and 1895. Two other photographers with the same last name were also listed, Ovila Desmarais (1864-1875) and Oliver Desmarais (1871-1878). It is likely that all three men were related.

Published in: on November 4, 2013 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT BY FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER MADAME GAGNE IN MONTREAL, CANADA

MADAME GAGNE_0002This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed woman and was produced by a female photographer in Montreal, Canada. Madame Gagne ran a photography studio in Montreal in the 1880’s and early 1890″s. Gagne had studios at other locations in Montreal including 897 St. Catherine (circa 1885) and1823 St. Catherine (date unknown). She was located at the 211 St. Laurent address in 1895. She did a great deal of portrait work for the Chinese community. William Notman was the Montreal photographer associated with taking portraits of the elite. It is likely that Madame Gagne was married to fellow Montreal photographer, Edouard Gagne. The McCord Museum in Montreal has some of Madame Gagne’s work in their collection of historic local photographs.

CANADIAN COUPLE POSE IN ONTARIO, CANADA (MAN IN UNIFORM OF AN UNKNOWN ORGANIZATION)

ONTARIO COUPLE_0006A middle aged couple photographed by M. Oliver of Ontario, Canada. he is wearing what looks to be a uniform of some sort, maybe masonic. He has a ribbon and pins and looks to be wearing a sash around his waist. His cap is labeled with what may be an id number “1410” and what looks to be “L  O I”.   He may be a member of a military or fraternal organization or fire or police department.He is wearing terrific suspenders.  Lets not forget that his wife is also in the picture. She is wering a nice hat and  bow tie with jewelry on her collar. He has ribbons around his sleeves which gives them a bunch look.

Published in: on February 13, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (4)  
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PRETTY, YOUNG, AND WASP WAISTED IN OTTAWA CANADA: PORTRAIT OF MARY DEVLIN (1890)

OTTAWA WOMAN_0007A pretty young wasp waisted woman, holding a muff and wearing gloves, poses for what is likely a winter portrait at the Jarvis studio in Ottawa, Canada. According to an inscription on the reverse of the photograph, the corseted woman is named Mary Devlin and the photograph was taken in 1890. The photographer, Samuel J. Jarvis was a famed Ottawa photographer who opened a studio with partner Alfred Pittaway in 1882 while both were still teenagers. In 1890 they split up and became competitors. They joined forces again in 1907 and worked together until Pittaway’s retirement in 1928. Their studio did photo portraits, photojournalism, and operated a photographic supply shop and developing studio. The pair hired an artist who created elaborate sets and backdrops. The Ottawa Citizen (1948) published a feature story about Jarvis and his pioneering days in photography. Samuel J. Jarvis should not be confused with his photographer uncle, Samuel Jarvis.

Published in: on February 3, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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SALVATION ARMY OFFICER AND A PRAYER BOOK HOLDING WOMAN IN TORONTO, CANADA

TORONTO SALVATION_0002This cabinet card photograph features a Salvation Army officer and a middle aged woman. It is not clear whether she is a Salvation Army worker because unlike the gentleman, she is not wearing an insignia of the organization. The gentleman has a “S” badge on each shoulder and a “Salvation Army” band on his hat. The woman is holding what appears to be a worn prayer book. This photograph was taken at the J. H. Lemaitre & Company studio in Toronto, Canada. The cabinet card gallery has an extensive collection of photographs of uniformed Salvation Army workers. Click on the category “Salvation Army” to view the collection.

Published in: on January 17, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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ATTRACTIVE COUPLE IN TORONTO, CANADA

This photograph, by Thomas E. Perkins, features an attractive formally dressed couple. The woman is very photogenic. Her dress is very styled and detailed  Her husband appears very intense. The photographer was based in Toronto, Canada. His studio was located at 293 Younge Street. In the 1880’s Perkins employed a fledgeling photographer, William H. Gardiner. Later in his career, Gardiner became well known for his photographic work on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

CANADIAN MAIDEN POSES IN MONTREAL

A Canadian maiden poses for her portrait in Montreal, Canada. She clearly is trying to look a bit sexually provocative in this photograph. She manages to succeed in her effort; but one must remember,  a respectable turn of the century woman would not assume a more risque pose than the one she has taken in this photograph. Note the wicker furniture in this photograph. The photographers are Larin and Stidworthy of Montreal, Canada (2202 Notre Dame Street). The Larin in this partnership is Henry Larin.

Published in: on April 21, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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HANDSOME GUY IN A FUR COAT IN TORONTO, CANADA

A good looking young man, adorned in a fur coat,  poses for his portrait. The photographer is J. Fraser Bryce and his studio was located on 107 King Street West, in Toronto, Canada. Bryce was born in 1852 in Dundas, Ontario. After completing his education he went to Toronto and studied photography with Thomas Hunter. He supplemented his training with then acclaimed photographers, C. C. Randall of Detroit, Michigan, and J. F. Ryder of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884, Bryce located permanently in Toronto buying Hunter’s studio. Bryce is cited in the American Annuals of Photography (1887) as a member of the executive committee of the Photographic Association of Canada.

HUNTER/TRAPPER DRESSED IN WINTER GEAR (NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA)

This photograph features a hunter/trapper who is well armed for his expedition. He has a rifle and is wearing a knife on his belt. He is wearing winter gear which includes a jacket, cap, and snow shoes. This image was found in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is likely that the pictured outdoorsman is French, and that the studio was located in Nova Scotia.  SOLD

Published in: on October 8, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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CANADIAN RUGBY TEAM IN ST. MARYS, ONTARIO

This Cabinet Card is a portrait of a Canadian Rugby team. The photographer is Gray in St. Mary’s, Ontario, Canada. The boy’s uniform shirts reveal that the name of the team is St. Mary’s and one of the boys in the bottom row is holding the ball.

Published in: on January 20, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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