ID this picture from Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Question

This picture was among my mother's things, and I don't know who it is.  I'm sure she told me years ago, but I have forgotten.  I am positive it's one of my own ancestors, and I am positive it is someone from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, (near Jamestown) or one of the adjoining counties. I don't know the date of the picture, but someone more knowledgable about fashions of the age could probably pinpoint that.
Surnames that are linked to me (back to the mid 1800's)  are Edwards, Scott (I'm kinda thinking she is a Scott), Horne, Whitley, Chapman, Boykin, and Clayton.  Does anyone recognize this face, or have any suggestions about when this might have been done?   Thanks for any help!

PS, next week the small museum in her home town is having a "scan your photo day", and I'm going to take her with me, in hopes that they will let me leave her there for the day, with a note attached saying, "Do you know who this is"?

Answer 1

Is the actual picture still in its original frame?  Is there any way to see the back of it without destroying anything?  I'm wondering if there is the name of a photo studio, which might then help you date the photo and perhaps also give you a location.  

For instance, if it seems that the photo itself is dated to around 1900, and the woman looks like she might be, say, 25, then you're looking for someone born around 1875 in ___, Isle of Wight County, Virginia.   

If she might be a direct ancestor of yours, do the non-graphic ancestry table option which gives you 7 generations of ancestors, and look for any women born in the date range you've guessed!

Comments

Yes, it is in the frame   I'm going to take all the "holding nails" out this afternoon, to see if there's any ID'ing info on the back.  I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, LOL

Next week the small museum in her home town is having a "scan your photo day", and I'm going to take her with me, in hopes that they will let me leave her there for the day, with a note attached saying, "Do you know who this is"?

I was planning to use my tree to try to figure out who it was, but I wasn't sure about the dates. So are you thinking it was done around 1900?  That gives me a time to start.

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I'm not in any way an expert on photos, but just thinking of photos in my own family, I'm thinking the time frame 1875 to 1900 for the photo.  That advice plus $2 will get you a nice cup of coffee!

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LOL   Thanks!!  I'll take that "advice", because it's a better ballpark # than I had before.  Thanks!
Next week the small museum in her home town is having a "scan your photo day", and I'm going to take her with me, in hopes that they will let me leave her there for the day, with a note attached saying, "Do you know who this is"?

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Great idea -- leave some contact information and that you think you are a descendant and you may meet some new cousins.

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WOW!  Thank you for that suggestion!  I had not thought of that, and for ppl who don't have the time to think about it when they are there, that's a great idea.  I think I'll leave my email address and suggest that they take a picture with their phones, and show it around, especially to the "old folks". GREAT IDEA!!!!!   Thank you SO much!  

Answer 2

Interesting painting, looks llike they used gold leaf to accent the jewelry, especially the earrings. If it is on paper, I would put glass over it to protect it. Hope you can find out more about it.

Comments

No, no gold leaf.  It's just some very light yellow paint.  Even after all these years, I guess the effect still works, LOL.  It *IS* on paper, and there's glass over top, with a very nice frame holding it in place.  I'm about to take it apart to see if there's ANYTHING on the back that will help me know who it is.

At first I thought it was a photo that had been "colored", but on closer look, it DOES look like a painting or maybe done with chalk.   I'm not sure......... now that I get up close and personal, it's def not a photo.

Next week the small museum in her home town is having a "scan your photo day", and I'm going to take her with me, in hopes that they will let me leave her there for the day, with a note attached saying, "Do you know who this is"?

Answer 3

I love this picture. Her hair is adorable. She looks like a pixie. Her broach neckline is very pretty. Her earrings are also very pretty. She has good taste in jewelry. I love her dress and the details hat were put into it.

She has the perfect little round fact, and all of her details are just as cute as a button. I think best of all, I love her eyes.  I love this picture.  It is the best!

Comments

Thanks!  I like it too.  I'd like it even better if I knew who it was, LOL

Next week the small museum in her home town is having a "scan your photo day", and I'm going to take her with me, in hopes that they will let me leave her there for the day, with a note attached saying, "Do you know who this is"?

Answer 4

Well, as the old joke goes, "I have good news and I have bad news".  The good news is that all the nasty spots and discolorations were on the glass and not on the picture.  The bad news is, there's no identifying info on the back of the pic, just a big handwritten "F-4291".

On closer exam, I think this maybe was a drawing in colored pencils.  The artist was FABULOUS, huh???  Gonna take it to an artist friend in the next few days, and see what she thinks.

Comments

I have a collection of several photos taken around 1900.  I took them to the photographer who does restoration work for me.  He assured me they were indeed photographs.  Once the photo was printed, the original photographer, or more likely someone who worked for him, colored in the details (eyes, hair, lips, jewelry and sometimes a colored background).

Maybe what you have is something like mine.

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Thanks!  I think we DO have an old photo "restorer" here in town.  That''s a good idea to take it there to see if they can offer any opinion about dating it, and also what "process" created this pix.  I might end up knowing everything about this picture, EXCEPT who it is!  LOL