Carte de visite, portrait of Maggie F. Byrne
Reference: DD1/D/5
Subseries: Brown Bound Album
Level of Description: Item
Format: Photograph
Material & Techniques: sepia, black and white
Extent: 1
Creator: L. Domé [photographer]Published/Created: [ca. 1900-1920]
Place of Origin: Dublin
Physical Description: A small portrait of a lady adhered to a dark grey card. She wears a white dress with a dark necktie, with a small string of pearls and a pin. Looking towards the viewer, she holds a rose. Her dark hair is arranged to the back of her head, typical of the Edwardian style. There is some slight yellow damage to the photograph. The words ''very sincerly yours'' are hand written beneath the portrait. The name ''Maggie F. Byrne'' is printed below in faint blue lettering.
Marks & Inscriptions: [Front] Very sincerely yours, Maggie F. Byrne. L. Domé, 53A Rathmines Road, Dublin. [Back] Maggie J. [?]yrne, Victoria Bank, Donnycarney, Dublin.
Summary: The carte de visite was patented in 1854 by the French photographer André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, and soon became the most common type of photograph. Between four and six miniature portraits could be taken on one glass plate negative. Sitters then chose their favourites, which were printed, cut out and mounted onto calling cards. It was fashionable to exchange and collect images of family, friends, royalty and celebrities, into specially designed albums.