Petite Reine d'Etrurie 1860s

"Petite Reine d'Etrurie" is a carte de visite photograph by Pierre-Louis Pierson, created in the 1860s. The image depicts a young woman, likely a member of the Italian nobility, with a soft, ethereal quality. The subject is positioned in a simple studio setting, emphasizing her delicate features and elegant attire. The photograph's small scale and intimate portrait format were characteristic of carte de visite, a popular photographic genre of the 19th century, primarily used for exchanging personal images among friends and family. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds this striking example of a carte de visite, capturing a moment in time from the late 19th century.