Portrait of a woman and two children

Shot in a studio, the photograph features a rug or fur-covered floor and a plain wall, with the subjects dressed in dark, formally styled clothing, emphasizing the era's photographic conventions and social norms.

Originally part of the Dudley Johnston Archive in the Rare Books Room, the photograph was later stored with miscellaneous items, including World War I materials, wrapped in tissue paper.

Created during the early days of photography, this work reflects the emerging middle-class practice of family portraiture, made accessible by advancements in photographic technology in the mid-19th century.

Attributed to photographer T. Pacey, this piece contributes to the historical record of family life and photographic techniques of the 1850s, though its broader impact or exhibition history is not detailed in available records.