Description

A formal studio portrait of an elderly British colonial official seated in ceremonial civic dress, photographed by the renowned firm Bourne & Shepherd of India. The sitter wears a traditional judicial or municipal robe with lace jabot and formal wig, reflecting the ceremonial attire of senior officials in British India during the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The photograph is mounted on its original photographer’s board bearing the Bourne & Shepherd imprint.

Condition

Albumen print mounted to the original photographer’s card. General age-related toning and foxing to the mount, with scattered stains, corner and edge wear, and a small loss to the lower right corner. The photograph itself remains well preserved with strong contrast and only light surface wear consistent with age.

References

Alkazi Collection of Photography. Bourne & Shepherd: Ideas and Images. New Delhi: The Alkazi Collection of Photography, 2013.

Falconer, John. A Vision of the Past: A History of Early Photography in India. London: The British Council, 1987.

Falconer, John. Bourne & Shepherd: Photographers to the Raj. New Delhi: The Alkazi Collection of Photography, 2013.

Pinney, Christopher. Camera Indica: The Social Life of Indian Photographs. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997.

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