Help with dating a sinister-looking family group.

[fortmap]

Hello,
I recently found some old family photos. Nobody knows who the people in many of the photos are, so I'm doing my best to figure it out.
There is a group of four, three older women and a boy that feature in a few photos, always looking rather sinister. Though I'm sure they were actually lovely.

Perhaps if I had a good estimate as to the date on one of these, it might help my mission.

So, what do you think?

[fortmap]

Second attempt to upload it...

[fortmap]

I might as well put up one of the others...

[liscoole]

A lot of victorians looked sinister as they thought it wasnt decent to smile in photographs. I dont think I have ever seen a photo of that era with the subjects smiling!

I would say 1890- 1900 as a date?

The second photo looks obviously like a mother with her children. Also, victorians did not touch in photos unless they were close relations.

[fortmap]

Thank you very much for that. I didn't know about the touching thing.


I'm open to anybody else who has anything else to add, or to contradict!

[Redroger]

I would agree with 1890, but would make the final date a little later say 1910, as costume did not change that fast in many areas. The lack of touching which I didn't know about either does fit with the general Victorian ethos.

[liscoole]

Yes I would agree with the latest date of 1910.  It's interesting to see the family in their Sunday best and then more day to day clothing. I wonder if the father was taking the photos?

[fortmap]

OK, I have a third picture.
Their poses seem much less Victorian in this one. Perhaps this upsets the pre-1900 theories? 

[liscoole]

Definetely seems around 1910 or even slightly later.... also now seems positive that the father or other very close relation was taking the photo- he obviously caught them in a very natural pose lol!!
They are fantastic photos and in great condition, you are very lucky. Maybe the father was a photography enthusiast?