Memento Mori: Post-Mortem Photography In The Victorian Era
The advent of photography in the Victorian era provided an affordable alternative to expensive painted portraits. Grieving families hired post-mortem photographers to capture what was likely to be the only image they had to remember the deceased by.
Mortality rates were high and death in the home was an ordinary accepted part of life. The deceased would be arranged in life-like poses with their eyes propped open, drawn on post-photo, or else depicted as if in a deep restful sleep.
Children were arranged in cots or with a favourite toy. It was common for the deceased to be joined by their living relatives, making these earnest family portraits hauntingly sombre for the twenty-first century viewer.
Victorian Emily Blunt.
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Post photo painted eyes.
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A young child poses with her.
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A young man props up his brother.
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A little girl; her head adorned with flowers. Could the figure in the background be her mother propping her up?
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Deceased woman supported by what looks like her parents.
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A mother supports her daughter in this tender photograph.
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A young girl arranged on the floor with her favourite teddy, surrounded by her extended family. A very relaxed arrangement - spot the family cat.
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A touching photo of what appears to be a father and son. The lengthly exposure times meant that subjects would have to sit still for long periods of time, it’s possible this man was simply caught unawares.
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This heartbreaking photo appears to feature a mother and her triplets. Perhaps she died in childbirth? The infant closest to her looks to be alive.
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Of course there were those who wished to remember their pets too.
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