In the University of St Andrews Photographic Collection I came across the Lady Henrietta Gilmour Photographic Collection and this particular photographic intrigued me. It was listed as ‘Nora Rintoul, Housemaid, Montrave House c1900’
The composition seems to have been styled to symbolise meaning [or meanings] known to both the subject and photographer. Why was the silver plate included? Why was Nora looking through an unopened letter?
Wikipedia:
Leonora Jeffrey Rintoul FRSE (1878-1953) was a Scottish ornithologist and rare female member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In authorship she is known as L. J. Rintoul and is closely associated with her “constant partner” and co-author E. V. Baxter.
Lahill House, Largo.
