[Group Portrait of Six People] 1850s - 1860s

This group portrait, created between the 1850s and 1860s by Franz Antoine, a photographer born in 1815 and who died in 1886, captures a family in a formal setting. The portrait is likely a commissioned piece, common in the era, showcasing the family's wealth and social standing. The subjects are arranged in a composed manner, with the adults seated and the children standing, highlighting a traditional family hierarchy. The use of a detailed backdrop and the subjects’ attire further emphasizes the family's status. This image, now residing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a visual documentation of a specific family from a bygone era, providing insight into the social customs and portraiture trends of the mid-19th century.