What is post-mortem photography called?
memorial portraiture
Post-mortem photography (also known as memorial portraiture or a mourning portrait) is the practice of photographing the recently deceased. Various cultures use and have used this practice, though the best-studied area of post-mortem photography is that of Europe and America.
When were post-mortem pictures popular?
These postmortem photographs, as they are known, were popular from the mid-19th through the early-20th centuries—common enough to grace mantelpieces.
What did Victorians do when someone died?
Memento Mori (Reminder of Death) took several forms, locks of hair cut from the dead were arranged and worn in lockets, death masks were created in wax and even bronze and the images and symbols of death appeared in paintings and sculptures.
What was the leading cause of death in Victorian England?
Infectious diseases were the greatest cause of Victorian mortality. Most of these, such as smallpox, tuberculosis and influenza, were old scourges, but in 1831 Britain suffered its first epidemic of cholera.
What is Victorian postmortem photography?
Stiff Pose Victorian Postmortem photography (140 Pics) May 19, 2012 Postmortem photography or memento mori, the photographing of a deceased person, was a common practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The photographs were considered a keepsake to remember the dead.
What’s the problem with post-mortem photographs?
The problem is that many of these so-called post-mortem photographs are simply regular Victorian photography featuring subjects who were very much alive when the photos were taken. Warning: some may find some of the photographs below disturbing. Likely post-mortem photograph of an infant.
What is a post-mortem portrait?
For many people of the Victorian era, a post-mortem portrait might be their first experience with photography. The relatively new technology presented an opportunity to retain a permanent image of their deceased relatives — many of whom had never been photographed while they were alive. Today, Victorian death photos may seem disturbing.
What is a Victorian death photo?
In others, symbols of death and time — like an hourglass or a clock — mark the portrait as a post-mortem photograph. By capturing the dead on film, Victorian death photos gave families the illusion of control. Although they had lost a beloved relative, they could still shape the portrait to emphasize a sense of calmness and tranquility.