Let’s go to the late 1890’s next and back to the remarkable series of photographs taken by early photographer David Ritchie.
Queen Victoria was still on the throne when these two Blantyre lassies were photographed, a held up bedspread providing a more pleasing backdrop. That may just be a hand at the top left! These are two of David’s children. A father photographing his kids. The family were living at School Lane, High Blantyre at this time.
The photo has exceptional clarity and sharpness for its 120 year age. The picture suggests the full lives of those two little tots are all ahead of them, but in reality those same lives have already gone.
With thanks to Alex Bowie for sharing this photo.