parents

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&...

Mr. Harvey Ladew (1887-1976) was apparently a "noted topiary artist": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Ladew

That topiary guy is "Harvey S. Ladew" and this person is labeled " J. Harvey Ladew". Similar, maybe typo, but maybe not. J. Harvey Ladew is noted as a "wealthy leather merchant and yachtsman" in this NY Times article: query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C04E...

pennylrichardsca & Harry Angstrom: Thank you for your comments! Based on the information provided by both of you, this seems to be J. Harvey Ladew. The topiary artist Ladew was a bachelor and only in his late 20s at the time of this image, while J. Harvey has two children in this photograph, and appears a bit older.

I started an entry on him in Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harvey_Ladew

Hei! I am so impressed with your pic ;) Have a nice day ^.^

An entire family of left-side parts. At the same time, a quietly vivid display of character variation, and an overall glimpse of a sweet family.

Richard Eric How weird, Richard! Now you have started a new fascination for me - which side hair is parted... Should I tag? Joking aside (so long since had parting) would this mean the main hair brusher/arranger (mother?) was left- or right-handed?

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Or hair sworls? Perhaps left side parts were common in Kilkenny. And your thought about the mother as the primordial parter-of-hair is spot on. I didn't think of that!

Richard Eric Now eyeing up colleague's hair dos! They're starting to edge away from me... And I'm adding "parting" - think that's more usual this side of Atlantic - though am prepared to sit corrected.

Hair-parting is a big deal. I recall some judgemental lady telling me sternly that I had to part my hair on the other side, because mine was parted on the "boy's side".