Lot 97

Lot 97

Three breathtaking warm toned landscape photographs of Bradford, Vermont by E. H. Allen. Allen certainly had a painterly quality in his work, and this is especially exhibited in the trees and the mountains in the distance. All three are from the same area with two being more similar in composition. The slightly larger version that is marked for Allen shows the lake or tributary at its lowest level, with part appearing as a field. It has slightly darker tones than the smaller version which is quite vibrant. In that image, we can see a full body of water that glistens in the light and the mountains stand-out slightly better. The third image has shifted to the left, showing an area that is now growing outward. We can also see houses on thin strips of land and a few in the water along with the railroad line which leads us to believe these were taken during a heavy flood. All three photos are in very good/very good plus condition. The different view (third image) has a very light water line on the far right side that could possibly be conserved. The smaller image has a crease/soft corner on the mount at the top right and a small wrinkly in the photo in the grass on the bottom right corner with a nick also on the mount below. The identified image has a couple of scratch lines of loss as seen with some other lines seen at an angle. Two measures 8” x 10” with the mount and the third is 7” x  9.” E.H. Allen’s Photographic Studio was located on the east side of Bradford’s Main Street and was described by The United Opinion in 1895 as ranking among the best in the state. It housed Allen’s photographic studio and “an extensive and beautiful line” of artist supplies.” There is a photo of the studio in the Bradford Historical Society.