Add MS 47218 A(147)

Genre: Portrait Photography

Portrait of Frances Isabella Duberly on horseback, with her husband Captain Henry Duberly, 8th Royal Irish Hussars, standing on the left. The photograph was enclosed in a letter to her sister Selina dated 14th April 1855 (but evidently sent later), which includes the following remarks: 'I send you a photograph of Bobs. In his picture he has only 3 legs - which is a libel on the old ruffian, for he has four, but he was taken unbeknown, and we were none of us prepared. I was obliged to be taken on his back, to hide the mange spots about the saddle with my habit skirt. There have been an incredible number of copies struck off and sold, as I hear, at least every man I meet seems to have one, and Fenton would not charge us anything for it, I being the only lady. If it appears at Ackermans [who marketed Fenton's photographs in London], I hope he will send mother prints, shewing that old villain's other fore leg...Henry's beard too will astonish you, the old brute, knew he was going to have his picture taken and stood all no how on purpose to spite me...'