Help bring 150 year old photo to life

[Shamrockgirl]

Hi I am blessed to have this photo of my great great grandmother Maryanne O'Loughlin nee Dunne 1822 - 1894 and my great grandfather Michael O'Loughlin 1856 - 1940. I would love to see it in colour if at all possible please.
Rosenallis Laois Ireland

[Wiggy]

What an interesting photo!  you are lucky to have it.   

I am wondering if you have the right people - this looks like late 1850s early 1860s to me and the man and woman don't look to be a generation apart.       Also the man/boy would be much younger according to your dates.

I could be wrong - if you go back to your first post and incorporate 'Dating' in your thread title, it will bring in those who know better than I. 

Wiggy

[mckha489]

Before I read your comment Wiggy, I had misread the opening post and thought they were supposed to be husband and wife and thought “no way” he is much younger than her.

So I think they ARE a generation apart.

Michael has a scruffy beard, and born 1856, so would have to be at least 1870,  more likely closer to 1875.


Added....on closer inspection, it’s not pathetic facial hair, but fuzziness in the image.
I’ve just been looking through  my family photographs of the time.  And agree late 1860s

[goldie61]

I do think they are a generation apart.
She is possibly 40/45 ish, and he may be a teenager.
So given she was born 1822, that could make the photograph about 1867, and if he was born 1856 that would make him 11. He's possibly a couple of years older than that, but it could possibly fit.

Do things change a lot between 'early 1860s' and late 1860s Wiggy?
Was the photograph taken in Ireland Shamrockgirl?
Just thinking fashions may not have changed quite so quickly there as in, say, London.

[hoobaloo]

Bit of colour - John.

[Ruskie]

Fabulous photo.

Something that strikes me is that the placement of the male seems odd. It might just be my imagination and due to his position behind the woman, but he seems really small and “far away”, as though his photo was superimposed behind her.

Looking at his small size I would proportionally expect him to have been standing further behind her rather than directly behind her chair. I know he is young, therefore smaller, but for him to be standing close to her his legs would have to be really long to touch the floor. He may be standing on something?

[heywood]

I thought he was sitting on a chair which is perhaps then on a platform behind her 

[Wiggy]

See what you mean about possibly sitting on a chair - specially the way his hand is positioned. 

OK he could be  her son, but he has quite a lot of facial hair hasn't he.      

Do things change a lot between 'early 1860s' and late 1860s Wiggy?

I don't know - which is why I suggested the OP put dating into the original title of the thread!      As much as anything, it is the way the male's neck cloth/tie is done which makes me think earlier. Also the shawl and head-dress the woman is wearing -  but I am no expert!   

[Ruskie]

I thought the “boy” was standing because of the way his hand is by his side. He may be holding a hat. I think he is on some kind of raised platform though.

Mckha suggested shadow rather than beard. Although he is wearing nice clothes he does come across as being a bit scruffy - maybe it is his face which seems a bit ruffian like. 

 I can’t determine his age but keep looking at his hair line wondering if it is receding, though it is probably the way his hair is combed that gives me that impression.