I am addicted to flicking through the old photographs posted by the National Library on Flickr. They attract me in the way peeping through a window into the past would: to catch a glimpse of real people captured in a moment of the 19th century.
My recent research led me to a collection of ‘four-legged’ images, where I soon discovered that people in the Victorian-era, from all walks of life, were just as obsessed with their dogs as we are today.
The Wandering Minstrel
Wandering minstrels and bards existed in Ireland for centuries. I love this image of the travelling musician playing a tune on his tin whistle or flute, accompanied by his little dog, which is perched on the back of the donkey. I’m sure this trio attracted a crowd and earned lots of coins because who could resist them?
Who was this man and what was his life story? How long did it take him to train his terrier to ride on the donkey’s back? He would make an interesting character in a book.
This photograph is dated between 1890 and 1910 from the Mason Photographic Collection.
Professional Photography
Professional portraits had wonderful backdrops in the nineteenth century. Images such as the above were taken in the studio and were often beautifully styled.
The top one above is a good example with its potted plants and stone plinths. These two Fanning ladies from Tramore look like mother and daughter, and the dog is probably a spaniel. The photograph was taken in about 1900.
The Dobbyn sisters from Waterford, Moira and Maud, were brought up by their Aunt Johanna (on the right). Taken in A H Poole Photographic Studios in about 1892.
Below is another portrait from Poole Photographic Studios. This is a Mr Knox from Arundel Square in Waterford with a greyhound.
The next one is of sisters Muriel and Sidney Gifford with an enormous dog. It’s hard to see exactly what breed it is, but it might be a Great Dane or even a Mastiff. What do you think? The photograph from 1911 has a dramatic seascape behind and it comes from the Thomas McDonagh papers.
And lastly a few photos featuring a cat a well. These two ladies in 1900 below have a collection of creatures including a dog, two cats and several birds.
The National Library says “Very likely taken at the stables at ‘Plas Gwynfryn’ mansion in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, and the image is understood to show first-cousins Edith Augusta Dillon (1878-1964) and Mary Elizabeth Ellis-Nanney (1877-1947.”
The Dillon Family from Clonbrock in Mayo, Ireland were keen photographers, dating back to the mid-19th century with interesting shots of ladies wearing crinoline dresses.
Suzanne Winterly writes dual timeline mystery novels. Click button for more information:
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