Posed with a pillar that features some ratty vines, this young boy had a round face and a rather pedestrian suit of clothes. Note that his trousers don’t go all the way to the floor. Was that a fashion options, or evidence of a recent growth spurt? He looks to me to be around 10-13 years of age. The photo was made by Lewis Horning at 63 N Eighth Street, Philadelphia. It appears he was active in Philadelphia, PA from the 1860s all the way to the end of the century. This particular location was in use 1877-1895. Horning was known to have operated up to 9 locations, not all at the same time, and also photographed landscape & out door images of Army of the Potomac camps. Also of interest, another site postulated that since the Horning gallery was located in a historically African-American part of Philadelphia at one point, he likely was utilized by African-American patrons as well as caucasians – something not necessarily common in America’s 19th century culture.
Additional Reading
A Trip To The Parlor Gallery via University of Delaware
Listing of Horning Locations via New York Public Library
Fairfax Seminary image via Library of Congress
Who Were They? 