Summary
Glass plate negative portrait of Jean and Edythe Ellison Harvie standing in a garden. Ellison, as she was commonly known, is probably between the ages of 6 and 7 years and Jean is probably between the ages of 4 and 5 years. For a similar image see MM 043416.
It is thought that this photograph was taken by their father, studio photographer, Robert Harvie. Mr Harvie regularly used his daughters as subjects for his photographs, a large number of which are taken in gardens, presumably at the family's various residential addresses.
Robert William Harvie was a professional photographer who, with his business partner Albert Sutcliffe, owned a photography studio named Harvie & Sutcliffe between 1898 and 1908, located in the Cromwell Buildings, 366a Bourke Street, corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne.
The Harvie Collection includes examples of Robert Harvie's private and professional photographic practice. A number of the photographs depict the family life of four generations of the Harvie family, including the Lang family.
The Harvie and Lang families had social significance in Melbourne through their active involvement in early Australian vegetarian movements, early moving film, photography and architecture, as well as various other cultural societies and clubs in Melbourne.
Description of Content
Two girls in backyard. The youngest girl is seated in a chair with her head resting on her hand, looking down at the ground, while the oldest stands behind looking directly at the camera, holding onto the back of her sister's chair. Both girls are dressed in white dresses and the standing girl has a big white bow in her hair. Next to the girls is a watering-can on the right and in the background there are trees and a garden shed.
Physical Description
Glass plate negative, black and white, portrait format.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
Clothing & Textiles, Home & Community, Images & Image Making
-
Place & Date Depicted
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1908 - 1909
Image most likely taken in the backyard of one the family's residences. The Harvie family lived at 13 Armadale Road, Armadale from 1906 -1908 and 4 The Terrace, Malvern, from 1908 to 1911, however, it is unclear at which address this image was taken. Originally the image was assigned an estimated date range circa 1920s-1940s, however, further research into the age of the girls depicted indicates it was taken earlier. Ellison was born in 1902 and Jean was born in 1904. In this image it is estimated that Ellison is most likely between the ages of 6 and 7 years and Jean is most likely between the ages of 4 and 5 years, placing the date range circa 1908 - 1909. -
Person Depicted
-
Person Depicted
-
Creator (Possible)
Mr Robert W. Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1908 - 1909
-
Individuals Identified
(standing); Harvie, Edythe Ellison; (seated); Harvie, Jean
-
Format
Glass Negative, Quarter Plate, Black & White
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Image Dimensions - Negative/s
120 mm (Width), 161 mm (Height)
-
Keywords
Portraits, Backyards, Chairs, Clothing, Fences, Hair, Watering Cans