Summary

Glass plate negative portrait of Matilda Lang (nee Gilchrist), Ellen D'Arcy Harvie (nee Lang), D'Arcy Thomas Harvie and Donald D'Arcy Harvie in a garden. Donald Harvie is probably around 6 years old.

This photograph shows four generations of Robert Harvie's family: his grandmother, Matilda (seated, left), his mother, Ellen (seated, right), his brother, D'Arcy (standing), and his nephew, Donald (standing). For an almost identical photograph see MM 043439.

It is thought that this photograph was taken by, studio photographer, Robert Harvie. A large number of photographs thought to be taken by Robert Harvie, of his family, are in gardens, possibly at the Harvie'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

A portrait of a family in a backyard. Two elderly women dressed in darkly coloured dressed, seated either side of a young boy, dressed in a lightly coloured jacket. The young boy perches on the lap of the elderly woman on the right. A man in a darkly coloured suit stands behind them. There is a rug under the feet of the women, on top of a grass lawn, with trees and a fence in the background.

Physical Description

Glass plate negative, black and white, portrait format.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Harvie Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Images & Image Making, Clothing & Textiles, Home & Community

  • Place & Date Depicted

    Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1909
    A large number of photographs taken by Robert Harvie of his family, are thought to depict the Harvie family's various residential addresses. For the dates during which it is thought this photograph was taken, Robert Harvie lived at 4 The Terrace, Malvern, from 1908 to 1911, and Ellen D'Arcy Harvie lived at 26 Union Street, Malvern, from 1909 -1915; however it is unclear at which address this photograph was taken. Originally the image was assigned an estimated date range circa 1920s-1940s, however, further research into the age of Donald D'Arcy Harvie indicates it was taken earlier. Donald was born in 1903 and is thought to be around 6 years old.

  • Creator (Possible)

    Mr Robert W. Harvie, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1909

  • Individuals Identified

    (left to right); Lang, Matilda; Harvie, D'Arcy Thomas; Harvie, Donald D'Arcy; Harvie, Ellen D'Arcy

  • Format

    Glass Negative, Quarter Plate, Black & White

  • Classification

    Domestic life, Gardens

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Image

  • Image Dimensions - Negative/s

    118 mm (Width), 162 mm (Height)

  • Keywords

    Portraits, Families, Backyards, Clothing, Fences, Hair