Victorian Death Photos

Original source:  Unknown

I attended a seminar this past weekend called "Morbid Geneaology" and one of the topics was Victorian Death photos.

From the mid-to-late 1800 to the early 1900s these types of photos were commonplace and many times family members would be posed along with the deceased loved ones.   Sometimes in an attempt to make them look lifelike and other times to make them appear as if they are sleeping.   Live family members in the phots usually had a somber expression but sometimes the sadness of the loss is seen in their faces. 

Photos were not common like they are today and only professional photographers took pictures as it was an arduous process and fairly expensive.   Sometimes the only portrait of the person or family portrait might have been taken is after a loved one passed so they could cherish their memories as a family. 

The woman that led the seminar also indicated if you have photos that date back to that era, you might have a Victorian Death photo in your collection and not even realize it. The above was given as an example; can you tell in the above photo is deceased?

As the old-time photography equipment sometimes exposures had to be over a longer period of time, sometimes it is the living person that is blurred because they were not able to hold the pose despite their best efforts.

We were also told if the eyes did not look right, sometimes the lids would be closed and the eyes would be drawn on the eyelids. 

While it has not been a common practice in over a century, there are certain situations where they are still taken today. 

The woman leading the seminar noted the only pictures they had of an infant in the family that passed away a few days after birth was with the baby hooked up to life support.   A photographer was hired to take pictures of the baby after the child passed away so the family could remember the baby as it would have been had it survived and it was a source of comfort.

She also warned to be judgemental of those that take photos of a loved one that has passed away while in the casket at a funeral as it could be the source of comfort or closure for that person to see the loved one in a peaceful state.

The only movie I have seen that touches on the subject is the 2001  movie "The Others" starring Nicole Kidman that is set in the Victorian Era with her character raising two children in a secluded mansion and supernatural events begin happening.   You can probably find it at your local video store, rent online or check out from your local library if they have a copy.

I was going to post a link I had found but as the mortality rate for children back then was high (we were informed 1/3 of all children died before the age of 10) it is a bit depressing and make your heartache for the life they might have had.

It is a part of our history, but you can Google and there are also compilations on Youtube if you search Victorian Death photos.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the links of the other participants of Countdown to Halloween at the link below.

Note: It is the girl on the right that is deceased in the photo.  If you look closely she is on a stand and her hands are discolored.