Mrs. S. H. C. Miner 1846 - 1891

This is a photograph of Mrs. S. H. C. Miner made by William Notman, a photographer working in Canada in the late 19th century. Here we see a society lady presenting a photograph album, perhaps displaying her own family. This image speaks to the rise of photography as a means of both preserving likenesses and advertising social status in the Victorian era. Notman's studio in Montreal was renowned for its innovative techniques and artistic approach to portraiture. Photography studios arose in the mid-19th century. The sitter in the photograph would have been a wealthy client. As photography became more accessible, it also democratized portraiture, offering a wider range of people the opportunity to record their image. Further research into the Notman studio's records and social histories of photography in Canada can offer a deeper understanding of this image and its cultural context. It shows how even a seemingly straightforward portrait can reveal complex relationships between art, commerce, and social identity.