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16 Apr 2020

Camera-ready canines

Written by Lily Barnes – Morton Photography Project Documentation and Digitisation Officer
A black and white photograph of a lady dressed in black and wearing a large locket, sitting with a small dog on her lap. The dog has very large ears! The lady is looking down at the dog with an affectionate look on her face.
A lady cradling a small dog on her lap
Here in the UK, we’re renowned for our love of pets – especially dogs. These photographs, dating from the 1860s, show that this is nothing new.
A black and white photograph of a lady standing in a photography studio. She poses with two large, hairy dogs; one lies at her feet asleep and the other sits attentively at her side. A black and white photograph of a lady standing in a photography studio. She is wearing a very elaborate ruffled silk skirt. She stands facing a console table, upon which stands a small dog. The lady appears to be scratching the dog’s chin. A black and white photograph of a lady standing in a photography studio. The lady wears a long, pale silk dress with a very wide skirt. She rests her hand on an armchair, upon which sits a small, long-haired, spaniel-looking dog. It gazes up at the lady. A black and white photograph of a man standing in what looks like a glasshouse or garden building. A small dog lies on a dining chair. The man is very smartly dressed. Large potted plants are balanced on wooden boards. A black and white photograph of a man sitting in a photography studio in front of an illustrated castle backdrop. He wears a smart coat and a bowler hat. A black curly-haired spaniel-type dog lies at his feet. A black and white photograph of a lady standing in a photography studio. She wears a long, grand, striped silk dress with an elaborate shawl draped over her shoulders. She holds a small, long-haired dog on a table. A sepia photograph of a man sitting on the floor, resting his elbow on a chair. He wears a tweed jacket and checked trousers. A collie dog sits on the chair, facing the camera. A small child in a dress poses on a wooden fence in a photography studio, against a coastline backdrop. At his feet lies a collie dog, who looks towards the photographer. A black and white photograph of a girl standing in a photography studio. She wears a slightly crumpled long black silk dress. She stands beside a console table, on which lies a small black furry dog. She is stroking the dog and smiling. A black and white photograph of a girl standing in a photography studio. She wears a slightly crumpled long black silk dress. She stands beside a console table, on which sits a small black furry dog, with its ears pricked. Both look towards the photographer.

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