[Samuel Cousins] 1860s

This photographic portrait of Samuel Cousins was produced by John and Charles Watkins. In this image, Cousins is depicted in profile, a pose historically linked to Roman portraiture, intended to convey authority and nobility, resonating with ancient ideals of leadership and virtue. The tradition of portraiture, particularly in profile, extends back to antiquity, with figures like emperors and philosophers immortalized in stone and metal. Notice how the subject’s gaze is directed towards the future, a symbol of progress and forward-thinking leadership that contrasts with the static nature of the portrait itself. The act of commissioning a portrait is an engagement with memory and legacy, with the subject aspiring to be remembered in a certain way by future generations. This photograph then becomes more than a mere image; it is a vessel carrying cultural and emotional weight, connecting past aspirations with present interpretations.