This is a post mortem photo by Robson . It was extremely expensive to have a photo taken during Victorian times. Only the wealthy could afford such a luxury.
If a child or other loved one died it was a common practice to have a photo taken either alone or as in this case with the family especially if there was not yet a living likeness. If you look closely you can see a base behind the girls feet and a post would go up from that with clamps at the waist and neck and the clothing would be open at the back.
The arms would have stiff wires running at the back to hold them in place. Also notice the strange placement of the hands. The pupils are painted on the closed eyelids.
It was not until after ca.1900 with Mr. Eastman's film process that photography became available inexpensively, as we know it today. Post mortems were very common in Victorian times and if you look closely at portraits from pre ca.1900 you may have one of these photos. This photo ca.1888"
This is a simple clamp...
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