Estimate on date of attached 'photo' for Francis Davey Gwinear

[Earlsdau]

Hello experts,

I am wondering if anyone could identify the approximate era this attached 'photo' was taken. Also about how old do you suspect the two people to be?

Information I have regarding the image makes me a little suspicious about them being who they are said to be.....merely because of the history of photography not extending too far back into the early 1800's. Hopefully I am wrong!!

Earlsdau

[AJ100]

Commercial photography started around the 1850's. This looks to be about 1870's by the dress style. He looks to be in his 40's, she a little younger.

Regards

AJ

[jim1]

What you have is a scanned copy of an 1850's ambrotype.
Ambrotypes were images on glass & as no negative was used they are in reverse as the glass was the medium used with a covering of light sensitive gel.
This is what it would have looked like at the sitting.
You notice now that his waistcoat is fastened the right way & her now left hand is prominant showing her wedding ring which was a common pose for a woman.
Depending on how old you think she looks I would suggest you're looking at someone born around 1830-35.

[Earlsdau]

Thank you AJ100 and Jim1 for your valuable input into the above. My suspicions were correct that the photo was of a later generation than being proposed.

Much appreciated

Earlsdau

[jim1]

What were you told ?

[Earlsdau]

I was told that it was of a couple who were born circa 1795 and who married in 1818. However having mentioned the opinions of your two posts, the person concedes now it was more probably the son and unmarried daughter of the couple mentioned - same names.

(Even) with the reversed image I couldn't see a ring on the lady's finger, which would make sense if it was the children of the former.......although I confess that the online image is a bit blurry.

Thanks again.

Earlsdau

[jim1]

Early photography particularly was full of symbolism. You will often see single women with their right hand over left.
Although this isn't good enough to show a wedding ring the pose suggests she's married.