Image – An American Family, Circa 1850

Chapter 11

An American Family, circa 1850

This photo shows William Jervishough and his family. The new emphasis on affectionate relations within families demanded new representations in family portraiture. In antebellum America, the structure of the American family began to change sharply, with a new emphasis on the affectionate bonds that sustained families.  Despite these changes, strict lines were still drawn between the gender roles of men and women.