Memento Mori Exhibition

A dead infant is displayed and photographed in a domestic library. The sometimes heartbreaking postmortem photographs – particularly of young children and babies – were not for public consumption. Postmortem photographs were taken because family members often died before relatives had had an opportunity to take their portraits. ("Sleeping Beauty 2" image silver print mounted on board 10 by 8 inches, circa 1890 (Courtesy of The Burns Archive/Sleeping Beauty III) (Courtesy of The Burns Archive/Sleeping Beauty III)