Lilian Wren, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

"Lilian Wren" is a carte de visite, a type of small photograph popular in the 19th century, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 as part of their "Actresses" series to promote Sweet Caporal cigarettes. The photograph features actress Lilian Wren, seated in a luxuriously ornate chair, her pose suggestive of the glamour and elegance associated with the theatrical world. The image, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers a glimpse into the marketing strategies employed by tobacco companies during the late 19th century, using celebrity endorsements to appeal to consumers.