an unusual framed victorian cabinet card possibly of a matador by Jackson & co. photographers southsea Hampshire.
card size ... 108mm x 164mm
frame size ... 190mm x 240mm.
the unusual cabinet card is possibly of a matador , bur what makes it unusual is that the elaborately dressed sitter was photographed in southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire. one explanation could be that he is part of the cast of carmen. After its British premiere in London in 1878, Carmen was a significant success. The opera was subsequently taken on extensive tours across the UK by various companies. The Carl Rosa Company, a leading English-language touring troupe, added Carmen to its repertoire and included it in provincial tours from 1880 to 1900, which reached major towns and cities across the British Isles, including the theatre royal portsmouth.
another explanation could be that it is a portrait of John o'hara a 19th-century British army sub-lieutenant from Limerick who became a bullfighter whilst garrisoned in Gibraltar. he was , known as "el ingles" in Spain during the 1870's.Though he gained a minor degree of fame for his bravery and eccentricities as a foreigner, he was not a highly skilled bullfighter and as a novillero he only fought young bulls. His short career was marked by a lack of skill in the ring, but he was noted for being a handsome and brave but inexperienced as a bullfighter. he left the army and returned to the uk.in time, Strapped for cash, O'Hara rejoined the army and later worked as a gym instructor. He met a tragic end in England, far from the bullring: according to regimental records, he died after climbing onto the roof of a moving train and being struck by a bridge.
A cabinet card is a type of photograph that was popular from the 1860's to the early 1900's, consisting of a paper photographic print mounted on a stiff cardboard mount. It was a larger format than its predecessor, the carte de visite, and often featured the photographer's name and location printed on the front and elaborate designs on the back.
