conservatory

Same boys as this one:

They standing boy really looks like his father.

Enlarge the 'father' using the Persistent URL and compare to this: www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/McCubbin_students2.htm . You will need a magnifying glass! And also this self-portrait (c. 1913, about seventeen years later than this shot): www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/pub/itemDetail?artworkID=52880 . Under a magnifying glass, there is a similar rash over the left eyebrow, and a mole in front of the left ear. Is this Frederick McCubbin and family in about 1895, possibly in Melbourne?

Assuming it is the McCubbin family in about 1895, that is his wife Annie (married in 1889). Eldest boy is Louis Frederick (b.1890), younger boy on his father's lap is Alexander (b.1893), the baby is Hugh Montgomery (b.1894). A daughter Mary (b.1891) had recently died in a tragic accident (in1894). Is this why they look so sad? They had three more children. Quick McCubbin biography here: www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/McCubbin_biography.htm The wife, Annie was the model in several of his most famous paintings, "On the Wallaby Track" (1896), and "The Pioneer" (1904): www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/McCubbin_wallaby.htm and www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/pub/itemDetail?artworkID=52858 If this is true, it is mind-blowing!

There is another picture taken a few seconds later (or earlier?). The other picture has been retouched to remove frowns, bags under the eyes, etc., so that the family looks relatively happy. Interesting to compare all the faces using the Persistent URL magnifier. www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=386437&...

It seems a little unfair to describe this as a toy. Bain doesn't seem able to make up his mind between toy and model in this set of photos, but given it seems to be a recognisable class of boat model seems the better description. I wonder why some are called one and some the other. Is it a cutter?

Yes. It's a gaff cutter, or more fully, a gaff-rigged cutter. A cutter has one mast and at least two foresails (jibs). The gaff is the spar pointing up at an angle to the mast.

They still sail model yachts in Central Park. See cpmyc.org/ Earlier others called them toy yachts -- see www.ronaschneiderprints.com/C19_BacherSailingToyYachts.htm Another term used is "pond yacht."

swanq Thanks, I tried looking it up but wasn't sure if I found the right name.

www.flickr.com/photos/barryjameswilson/5974594497/ shows a similar full-size yacht.

I see bamboo (actually I just read the tag on the right ;)

oaktree_brian_1976 Ooops, the independent adjudicator from KPMG will allow bamboo. I tagged for it because I blindly mistook a thin roof strut as a (dead) bamboo support for the banana palm... But where's the live bamboo?

We've got string beans and onions, Cabashes and scallions, all kinds of fruit and say, we've got an old fashioned potato, a new fashioned tomato, and Yes, we have no bananas NLI you stole (sorry "REPURPOSED" [whatever that means]) a line from my late aunts party piece which she belted out each time she had a few sherries on her! It really got the family going and caused great amusement! I cannot see any obvious bamboo but the fine leaves high behind the banana may just be what you describe!

Swordscookie "Stole" is such an ugly word! I "repurposed" it... :)

Phormium from Seuss looks plausible, but not so convinced by his suggestion of Aspidistra... And Swordscookie don't think that they look like bamboo leaves when you check against the huge size: