Unknown British Ambrotypist (XIX cent.)
Lowder Family Portraits, c.1855-1860

A group of 3 quarter plate hand-coloured ambrotypes, depicting portraits of Lowder family members; comprising a three-quarter lenght portrait of Lucy Lowder Alcock (1813-1899) in a purple dress with lace collar and sleeves, and golden coloured jewelery, leaning on a table on a green background, in a floral decorated brass mat, with oval aperture, decorated brass preserver, green velvet-lined, in a brown morroco double-side hinged case with green velvet pad; a three-quarter length portrait of Alicia Eirene Lowder (1845-1861) in a purple striped dress with lace sleeves, and golden coloured jewelery, leaning on a marble pedestal, on a green background, in a plain brass matt, with oval aperture, lightly engraved around the margin, decorated brass preserver, green velvet-lined, in a brown morroco double-side hinged case with green velvet pad; and from the same studio sitting session, a double plate portrait of Alicia Eirene Lowder (1845-1861), portraying the young lady in different poses, holding flowers in the right hand, leaning on a marble pedestal, on a green background with a brocade decorated drape, in floral decorated brass mats, with oval aperture, decorated brass preserver, red velvet-lined, within the same brown morocco double-side hinged case.

Lucy (Windsor) Lowder Alcock married Reverend John Lowder (1811-1849), Chaplain of Shanghai in 1840. They had five children, including Alicia Eirene. In 1849, John Lowder died in China. The widow married again, in 1862, Sir John Rutherford Alcock, KCB, a former military surgeon who had earlier held posts in China and Japan, and was a recipient of the order of Knight Commander of the Bath. These portraits were likely taken at the time of the second marriage of Mrs Lucy Lowder Alcock.

(Quantity:3)