Rose Massey 1869 - 1874

This is a stereograph of Rose Massey by Jeremiah Gurney, a New York photographer from the 19th century. Here, we see Rose gazing downward, adorned with a pearl necklace and earrings. The pearl, a recurring motif in art history, symbolizes purity and innocence, but also tears and sorrow. Think of Botticelli’s Venus, emerging from the sea, a pearl-like figure, both divine and vulnerable. This dual symbolism echoes through time, appearing in Renaissance portraits as emblems of marital fidelity, yet also in mourning jewelry, signifying loss. Rose’s downward gaze carries its own weight. Throughout art history, averted eyes often denote modesty or introspection, but also perhaps a hidden story, a secret world of emotions. This gesture, imbued with layers of meaning, engages our subconscious, inviting us to ponder the depths of Rose’s inner life and the universal human experiences of love, loss, and contemplation.