L a - b e a u t é - s a u v e r a - l e - m o n d e ~ D o s t o ï e v s k i

L a - b e a u t é - s a u v e r a - l e - m o n d e  ~  D o s t o ï e v s k i



Sunday, September 7, 2025

American beauty - seven portraits of children by Elbridge Ayer Burbank

 
The Sunflower, 1894.

I posted last February about the wonderful work of Elbridge Ayer Burbank. And while he is best remembered for his remarkable depictions of Native Americans, he also produced a handful of sensitive portraits of African American children.

Portrait of a Shy Girl, 1899.
Portrait of a Young Black Boy, circa 1892.
Portrait of a Girl with Bow in Her Hair, 1899.
American Beauty, 1892.
Girl with  a Candle, 1896. 
Boy with a Candle, circa 1886.

*

I've had to clean up these images considerably to be able to post them here. Because, as photographed, the condition of most of these pieces is/was very poor. Whatever the cause, be it actual damage, mere neglect, or possibly as the result of improper techniques deployed by the artist, I hope they've subsequently been properly conserved. I think they deserve - for reasons both historical and aesthetic - to be seen at their best.

Portrait of a Shy Girl - detail, 1899.



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