 This distinctive black and white photograph of Mrs. Lydia Bradley shows her seated before the front door of her home on Moss Avenue. An upholstered, Queen Anne style armchair with a high, round back has been placed on the pavement below the wide, front doorstep. The photographer stood slightly to Mrs. Bradley’s left. Mrs. Bradley is seated between two potted palm plants, which are set about 3 or 4 feet from her. The plants are wide and tall; the fronds stand a foot above her head. Behind her are the paneled double doors. There is an inscribed brass plate on the left door. The plants and doors, which frame her, make her appear small. But Mrs. Bradley looks up at and directly into the camera, which stands slightly to her left. She shows no sign of pleasure in having her portrait taken. Her look is one of self-assurance and strength. Her mouth is drawn straight and her eyelids are slightly closed. Her hands rest calmly yet firmly on the chair arms, fingers splayed. Her feet are flat on the pavement. Her white hair is parted in the middle and pulled back gently into a bun on the top of her head, leaving soft waves of hair at the sides of her face. She wears a black silk dress with a loose, pleated bodice that is gathered at the waist and cinched with a black belt with a gold, rectangular fastener. The dress has leg-of-mutton sleeves, full at the shoulder and tight at the wrist. The skirt is long and edged with a barely visible, flat black ruffle. The only embellishments to her costume are the white, cotton lace collar that stands an inch above the neck of the dress, the cameo pinned in the center of the collar, a gold chain watch fob across her chest, and two rings on her left hand. | |
