Francis Baring, sculptor.

'No 18. Gretchen. Marble by Lieut-Col Francis Baring'. Stereoscopic card. Souce: www.worldofstereoviews.com. 

Francis Baring (March 16, 1833 – February 21, 1895) was a captain serving in the Crimean War. He was attached to the famous Light Division. Last year I posted a photo of him made by Roger Fenton. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the Scots Fusilier Guards.

Left: 'Lt Col Francis Baring'. CDV size photograph. Source: www.the-eastern-window.com.
Right: Roger Fentons photograph, 1855 (cropped version).

He was a member of the famous Baring family. In 1762 his great-grandfather founded the Barings Bank; the oldest merchant bank in the UK until it was ruined by the speculations of one of its employees, Nick Leeson (losing $1.3 billion in 1995).

'A study of Colonel Francis Baring (1833 – 1895)' ca. 1865. Source: Gettyimages, from the Hulton Archive.

Ray Norman, from www.worldofstereoviews.com mentioned he was a sculptor. His website features the stereoview card shown at the top of this post. Apparently Francis Baring exhibited a marble figure titled 'Gretchen' in the 1873 International Exhibition in London. This stereoview was made by William England; a successful photographer specialized in stereoscopic photographs.

next episode: Libya

Cyrus & Mary

Daguerréotype, 6th plate, horizontal framing. Identified as Mary and Cyrus Goodrich. 1850?

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Notice the beard...

Mucha - Bières de la Meuse

Mucha: Bières de la Meuse, 1897.

next episode: a daguerreotype

Cornet Henry John Wilkin

Cornet Henry John Wilkin, 11th Hussars (or Prince Albert’s Own), British Army. Photo Roger Fenton, 1855. John Wilkin (d.1891) rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade as the 11th Hussars’ Assistant Surgeon. On 2 February 1855 he purchased the rank of cornet in the 11th, and is photographed here in full hussar dress; even his horse has its throat plume. Wilkin was a skilful horseman and excelled in the races organised during the Crimean War.

next episode: Beatles

Joannus Tollius

'Quintus' part of 'Zefiro Torna' from the collection 'Madrigali a Sei Voci'

Joannus Tollius (Amersfoort 1550 – Copenhagen 1603) was a classical musician. He was one of the best known composers of his day.

next episode: Crimean war Hussar

Daguerreotype Quarterplate

The dag is a quarterplate, this implies a size of 3.25 x 4.25 inches (8 x 11 cm) . The picture dates from around 1850.

Goya - portrait of Antonia Zarate (1805)

'Dona Antonia Zarate' by Francisco Goya (National Gallery Of Ireland, Dublin). Ca. 1805.

next episode: a daguerreotype 

Jean Harlow Blogathon

We interrupt this continuous flow of pictures-liked-by-rob to pay attention to the Jean Harlow Blogathon.

Did we mention it was her birthday March 3rd. Yes. But we forgot to mention that it was her 100th birthday (my math skills are apparently overrated). Of course (as usual) I noticed it too late, but better too late than never.

This blogathon is featured on the Kitty Packard Pictorial. If you are interested in the 1920s and 1930s, or like classic movies, than take a look at her site!

The poster shown above is in my living room (in between a Garbo poster and a Gloria Swanson poster). Riff Raff is a 1935 movie by J. Walter Ruben starring Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy. It's certainly not her best effort, although I haven't watched it yet (I had a hard time tracking it down since Dutch TV or the local cinema never show classic movies except the inevitable Casablanca). This is the storyline according to the IMDb:

Fisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie. After he is kicked out of his union and fired from his job he leaves Hattie who steals money for him and goes to jail. He gets a new job, foils a plot to dynamite the ship, and promises to wait for Hattie.

I also wrote a song about her last month. I won't torture you with the music, but this is too good an opportunity not to show some lyrics. They by far not my best, but in honour of Jean:

You’re so pretty in your white dress, 

an example of youthfulness.

You are certainly not a dumb blond,

 if you were here you could respond.

Today is tonight

Platinum blonde

You play so well

You are a bombshell

Your such a swell actress, 

your talent is limitless.

Today is tonight

Platinum blonde

You play so well

I’m under your spell

Today is tonight is the title of a novel she wrote, which was not published until 1965.

Maude Fealy Day !

Maude was born on March 4, 1883.

more photos

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow (1911-1937)