Postmortem

Still Under Construction

Post Mortem Photography

Left: Deceased person photographed in coffin. Section of a cabinet photograph by William Bentley, Kooringa (Burra).

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Photographing the deceased was practised during the 19th century. This carte de visite was taken by James Taylor of Gawler. neg. No. 5959.

Above: In September 1867 the Kapunda Herald reported seeing some photographs of Anlaby station taken by Blood & Nixon. One was "a picture that deserves more than passing notice, the burial by the blackfellows of the aboriginal shepherd Tommy Dutton. It is not often, indeed we believe this to be the first occasion on which the natives have allowed the 'white-fellows' to witness their funeral obsequies, much less photograph the scene." The above carte de visite records the burial scene.

Below: This modern print was made from a wet-plate negative found in a collection of glass plates made by the Norman photographers of Mount Gambier.

"Secure the Shadow."

One method of photographing deceased adults was to seat them on a chair in front of a plain background and arrange them so they appeared to be asleep. Due to the lack of movement long exposures were possible. This carte de visite was mounted on a "Kapunda Photograph Company, H.J. Thwaites, Manager" card overstamped in purple ink, "W.W. Thwaites, Artist Photographer, Tanunda."

Above: The grave of Rosetta Anne Nankervis, wife of Henry Nankervis, died 9 November 1897. Cabinet photograph by W. Riddle & Son, Yorketown.

Below: Tombstones and grave sites were also recorded by the 19th century camera. This carte de visite of the Hartigan family grave was taken by Stephen Nixon.

Left:Memorial tablet made by L. Kellet. Carte de visite photograph by Goode & Co., 69 Rundle Street, Adelaide. Neg. No. 9017.
Text on tablet is given below.

In memory of Henry Evans, Esq., JP, who died April 14th 1868, aged 56 years. This tablet has been erected by the inhabitants of the North Rhine and vicinity in grateful acknowledgement of many years skilful and gratuitous medical assistance, and in affectionate appreciation of his large-hearted beneficence and kindly sympathy, combined with his persevering efforts for promoting the public worship of God in this neighbourhood. "When the ear heard him then it blessed him, and when the eye saw him it gave witness to him."

Remembrance cards bearing a photograph of the deceased were popular around the turn of the century. This cabinet card has a real photograph of Camilla Paech (1884-1908). The printers, A. & E. Lewis of Adelaide, appear to have had trouble lining up the printed elements on the card.
In June 1909 the Burra Record Studio, which also published the Burra Record newspaper, advertised their "new and highly artistic design in Remembrance Cards, which includes a beautiful photographic picture of the departed on top of a black and gold-edged cabinet card, under which is printed the name of the deceased, the date of death and suitable verse." The firm said it was already executing orders from Adelaide to Broken Hill.

End.