From Canvas to Camera: The Accessibility of Memorial Art

 

Before the advent of photography, the ability to preserve a loved one’s likeness either in life or in death was a privilege reserved for royalty and the wealthy, who could commission expensive oil paintings. When the daguerreotype was first introduced, it remained a significant investment. However, many families who could not otherwise afford a portrait made a rare financial exception upon the passing of a family member.

These memorial images were not always solitary portraits. It was common for the deceased to be included in a "final family reunion" within a garden, around a dining table, or in the family living room, documenting the complete family unit one last time.

The Museum of Mourning Photography & Memorial Practice archive is an investigation into human ritual.