Blessed are the Dead: Momento Mori

       

         The Victorian period was a time of beauty, culture and a bold line between the classes. To have status was the equivalent to being a celebrity  by today's standards. During  Victorian times it was important to be seen as affluent as possible, even in the poorest of classes.

         Photography was just beginning to blossom during this time. It was considered very fashionable to have photographs gracing the walls of a Victorian home. Due to the fact that photography was highly expensive at the time, most families could not afford such a frivolous purchase for the basic family portrait. This is why Memento Mori became so  popular.

          Memento Mori was a photograph that was taken after someone had died to remember  them. Sometimes these photos were taken with a loved one resting in their coffin while others were taken to imitate life with the dead posed as though they were sleeping, sitting or even standing. Sometimes other family members would be included in the photo to give the family one last opportunity to have a family portrait taken before the funeral.

           Most photos taken during this time in history were Memento Mori photos. Sometimes only small details that most people would overlook are the only evidence that someone in the photo was in fact deceased. If standing, there may be a hint of a stand, not unlike a doll stand behind the body of the dead. Sometimes the eyes seem to be looking in the distance, void of focus, or in situations where the eyes were too sunken or dried out, false eyes where simply painted on closed lids. Hands were also an indication. In most Memento Mori photos the hands were posed with a prop like a bouquet of flowers or a book to distract someone from noticing how ridged and lifeless the hands appeared. Unfortunately because the hands could not grip the object it looked very unnatural.

         Death was so commonplace during this period of time, due to disease and poor hygiene that these photographs were not as macabre as they would seem today. It was an endearing way to remember family members and most families had these photos in their home or in lockets they could carry with them. Without these photos Historians would not have been able to paint such a vivid picture of the life and times of Victorians.

 

Reference:
   WWW.Huffpost.com
   WWW.Listverse.com