Untitled (nine photographs, clockwise from top left, Hon. Rosa Sandys; Sir E. Filmer; Mrs. (?) Biddulph; Hon. Cecil Sandys; Hon. E. Sandys; Hon. Sally Sandys; Colonel Bathurst; Hon. M. Sandys; Center Hon. Mrs. Capel; verso: "Punch" the pony with unidentified boy mounted, and unidentifed man holding reins) 1862 - 1888

Curator: This photographic album page, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums, presents nine portraits of individuals, including several members of the Sandys and Filmer families. Editor: The stiff formality of each figure is striking. Each pose, backdrop, and the clothing itself speaks to a rigid social structure. Curator: Exactly! Consider the laborious process of early photography. Each subject would have had to remain perfectly still for extended periods. The act of photographic portraiture was a ritual, a means of solidifying social standing. Editor: And note how the repetition of specific props—chairs, tables, curtains—functions almost like a visual language. They are symbols of status and domesticity in this era. Curator: It's fascinating how this collection, made by Mary Georgiana Caroline Cecil Filmer, preserves specific moments in time while showcasing the social conventions of the day. Editor: Yes, and pondering the choices made in arranging them on the page gives me a glimpse into the values and relationships within this circle.