PORTRAIT OF A FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

 

A young woman in San Francisco, California poses for her portrait at the Rieman and Tuttle photographic studio. The studio was also known as the Yosemite Art Gallery. The subject of this photograph was a fashionable woman as apparent by her attire and hair style. Note the cameo that she is wearing at her collar. Her name is written on the reverse of the photograph but I found it indecipherable. This photograph is in very good condition. George B. Rieman and William Nutting Tuttle became partners in 1879. Some of their photographs as well as others by Rieman when he was a sole proprietor can be seen by clicking on the category “Photographer: Rieman”.  SOLD

THEATER ACTRESS: MARIE LEGAULT

French theater actress, Marie Legault, is the subject of this cabinet card photograph by internationally acclaimed celebrity photographer Charles Reutlinger. This image was produced in Reutlinger’s Paris studio in 1880. To view other Reutlinger photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Reutlinger”. Marie Francoise (Maria) Legault (1858-1905) entered the Paris Conservatory in 1872. That same year she finished second in the comedy competition. She was just fourteen years old at the time. She was awarded a stipend to continue her studies and she won the competition the following year. During her theatrical career she appeared at a number of venues including the Gymnase, the Palais-Royal, the Vaudeville, the Comedie-Francaise, and the Theatre Michel in St. Petersburg. Legault created the role of Roxane in Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac (1872) and of Marie Louise in L’Aiglon (1900) with Sarah Bernhard. Her obituary appears in the New York Times (1905).

COLONEL REUBEN STEERE AND WIFE (“THE SMALLEST MARRIED COUPLE IN THE WORLD”)

The subjects of this cabinet card portrait are Colonel Reuben Steere (1838-1915) and his wife, Rebecca (1853-1929).  Steere is elegantly dressed and has a walking stick. Rebecca has unusually long hair which is displayed prominently. Reuben Steere was a native of Chepachet, Rhode Island. He was 44 inches tall and 43 pounds at maturity. He was a member of the Lilliputian Opera Company. In 1880 he married fellow Lilliputian, Rebecca Ann Myers of Indiana. The couple settled in Chepachet in 1882 and Reuben worked as a truant officer while Rebecca operated a restaurant and confectionary shop. This photograph was produced at the “photo parlors” of Rieman & Company. The studio was located on Montgomery Street in San Francisco, California. The address printed on the front of the photograph notes that the parlors were “Opposite Lick House”. What is Lick House? The name Lick House fosters all sort of silly images in my mind but the history of Lick House is actually quite interesting. James Lick was a renowned craftsman of wood products and a successful businessman. He began building Lick House in 1861. The building was two blocks long and three stories high. It was a luxurious showpiece hotel with 164 high quality rooms. It was considered one of San Francisco’s premier hotels until it burned down to the ground during the 1906 earthquake and fire. Advertising print on the reverse of the photograph includes the following two slogans, “Rieman’s Babies” and “When others fail, try Rieman”. Additional advertising on the reverse of the image are the names George R. Rieman and Fred H. Pray. At one time, Rieman and Pray were partners in operating a photography studio. Writing on the the back of the photograph states the photograph captures “the smallest married couple in the world”. To view other photographs by Rieman click on the category “Photographer: Rieman”.

KNIGHTS OF THE TEMPLAR MEMBER IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

The previous owner of this photograph asserted that the subject of this image is dressed in the uniform of  the “Knights of the Templar”. Note the gentleman’s sword , gloves, belt, sash, and feathered hat.  The Knights of the Templar was a fraternal group that originated shortly after the first crusade. To view other photographs of members of this organization, enter “templar” on this sites search box.  This image was produced by Rieman & Company which was located in San Francisco. The photograph is larger than a cabinet card. It measures 5″x8″.  Advertising on the reverse of the card includes the quote “Rieman’s Babies” and  “When Others Fail, Try Rieman”. These boastful statements refer to Rieman’s general photographic prowess as well as his special talent for the difficult task of photographing babies. To view other photographs by Rieman and to learn more about him, click on cabinet card gallery’s category “Photographer: Rieman”.

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This cabinet card is a portrait of a nicely dressed older gentleman with a bushy mustache. The gentleman appears quite distinguished and may have been part of the elite of San Francisco. The Rieman and Tuttle Studio produced this cabinet card. George B. Rieman and William Nutting Tuttle (1844-1895) became partners in 1879. The first three letters of Mr Tuttle’s middle name seems to have described his personality. He appears to have been a vagabond photographer; working in a number of studios and having multiple business partners in the years proceeding his venture with Rieman. In 1880, Tuttle left his family in Oakland and sailed to Australia to start anew. Tuttle’s wife, Belle, went to Australia to try to convince her husband to return to California. Her efforts were fruitless. Although Tuttle’s photography studios were very successful and he prospered in Australia, he didn’t support his family back in the United States. He stayed abroad until his death in 1895. The Cabinet Card Gallery has some photographs related to this image. To see other terrific mustaches, click on the category “Mustaches (Only the Best). To view other photographs by Rieman, and to learn more about his life,  click on the category “Photographer: Rieman”.

SHE’S BEAUTIFUL, EDUCATED AND POPULAR: YOUNG WOMAN HAS IT ALL IN SAN FRANCISCO

This cabinet card features a very pretty young woman posing for her portrait as a remembrance of an accomplishment, possibly a graduation. She is holding a rolled up paper that may be a diploma. She is surrounded by baskets of flowers. These floral tributes are from a number of admirers; she apparently was quite popular. The young woman is wearing a medal which may indicate that she excelled in some areas of her education. This woman has it all; beauty, brains, and popularity. The photographer who produced this image is Rieman whose studio was located in San Francisco, California. To view other photographs by Rieman, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Photographer: Rieman”.

Fashionable Woman in San Francisco

This Cabinet card by Rieman & Co. of San Francisco captures the image of a fashionable young woman in San Francisco, California. Rieman’s studio was in San Francisco in 1882 and he was partners with Forrest Chadbourne. Rieman opened a new studio in 1886 so it is clear that this photograph was taken between 1882 and 1886. To view other photographs by Rieman & Co., click on cabinet card gallery’s category “Photographer: Rieman”.