- 2008.001.1301
- Item
- [between 1890-1910]
Lantern slide, glass slide. Handpainted over B&W image. Black frame with gold letters "Edward Van Altena 71-79W. 45th St., N.Y.C." Slide is numbered 1. No wood frame. Image is handpainted, but looks like a B&W photograph underneath. It is of a man standing alone in the middle of nature, on the side of a mountain on a cliff, looking up at the sky. There's mountains around him, trees towering over him. The sky is blue with some clouds. Date based on research that shows Edward Van Altena's studio was active during 1890s-1910s. This series part of Life Model Slides. "The most popular slides in Victorian times were 'life model slides', which depicted popular sentimental stories of the day.The slides were produced by arranging actors in costume in front of a painted back drop. Stage props were placed in front of the actors and the scenes from the story were photographed. The slides were often hand tinted with colour and sold in boxes, along with a text to be used as a reading.In particular the temperance movement and political speakers used slides to convert a mass audience." (http://www.driffieldtoday.co.uk/wally-simpkins-look-at-east-riding-history/Shadow-shows-and-magic-lanterns.2696708.jp)