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Gregory Sullivan | all galleries >> A Collection Of Pictures That Deal With Death >> Post Mortem Photography > Montral Circa 1870 Notice the Box under the chin!
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Montral Circa 1870 Notice the Box under the chin!

If you look closely you will see what looks like a box under the child's cloths.
I believe that he has passed as this photos came with many other postmortem photos.
His hand may have fallen during the photo process.
The photo is by one of Montreal premier photographers for this type of photo( postmortem).
I have had many comment on this image and I am now perplexed is he alive or has he left his body?


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RCML 07-May-2015 17:21
The elaborate need of the covered box next to the chair may have cloaked a clever photographer helper who dropped the arm and hand to make it appear there was live motion in a deceased child. The eyes are a quandry. Photographer could wet them to reflect light as the stare is evident of possible death. But the slight whitish mark over the child left eye (right in viewer perspective) may indicate photographic "dodging" or addition to quality of eyes for reality sake. True about box under clothes to prop up a deceased childs jaw drop just enough to give more life like quality of breathing thru the mouth, thus its position for the posing. Truly a quality attempt to pose a deceased body as if still alive.
Guest 25-Feb-2015 18:27
They often "painted" the eyes on the eyelids to make them look living.
cindy 13-Feb-2015 13:31
the eyes may be glass?
Guest 26-Jan-2015 18:17
Passed on. Blue in photo is probably due to hand falling while picture was being taken. Slightest movement at all will cause a blur. Also, if you look closely, eyes look painted on.
Mala 25-Jul-2014 18:25
He is deceased. Ive seen quite a few pictures taken by the same photographer, same table, chair and tablecloth. Post Mortem photos from this time were meant to make the child look alive, babies were often put in gowns, but toddlers and up were meant to look as they did in life. The table and the tablecloth are there to hide an assistant who is hold him in position and was attempting to hold his hand up for some reason. There is a box under the clothes, the top being curved for his chin to rest in.
Guest 19-Jul-2014 16:32
I believe it to be a death photo also. He just doesn't look "right" for a living child.
Guest 04-Feb-2014 19:06
He's dead. His expression isn't normal and his eyes aren't focused right plus his legs are pointed out which would be extremely uncomfortable for the time it took pics to develop back then and his hand probably fell in the process plus it looks like he is being propped up...
Guest 03-Feb-2014 05:52
I would guess he's alive. His hair is messed up and if this were going to be the last picture I would think his hair would have been combed. Even if the parents were to upset to think of that I would have thought a photographer would have. On the other hand, if they wanted it to look like he was alive they may have left it like that on purpose.
Guest 23-Nov-2013 21:11
He's passed on his legs are straight and rigid a child does not sit like that with both legs straight out it was probably a very short time after he passed
Guest 09-Nov-2013 13:51
I think you are right about the box, and he also looks to be propped up against the table. His expression does not look very alive to me either.
Valerie Smith 25-Jul-2013 01:05
I have to agree with alive. The eyes don't look dead. Also they usually dressed children like this in a "funeral gown" male or female. This looks like a normal daily outfit for the time.
Ingrid 30-Jan-2013 18:33
I think this child is alive. The expression on his face and the feet that are blurred.
Guest 23-Nov-2012 03:05
Ahhh what's with that hair?
Guest 19-Aug-2012 03:15
His hand is moving....