Photography studio prop of a garden wall

Photography studio prop depicting of a short section of garden wall or exterior balustrade of classical design. Comprises a horizontal wall section with five oval holes and a upright section with a rectangular panel on one side and a lions head on the other. Painted grey.

This item was a decorative prop at Henry Mayson's photographic portrait studio in Keswick towards the end of the nineteenth century. It was used in front of painted backdrops to create the impression of the sitter being in a garden as they sat on or stood next to the prop.

The effect of constructed landscapes and architectural interiors was popular in nineteenth century studio portraiture and spoke to earlier portrait painting conventions. It declined in popularity as people began to own their own cameras and could take their own portraits in real landscapes.