Photographic portrait of a female pianist, Ballarat, circa 1869

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 98 x 61 mm, verso with studio imprint Bardwell's Royal Studio, Ballarat, opposite Theatre Royal. Both the albumen print and mount are in fine condition. A rare image of a female musician on the Victorian goldfields. Although unidentified, the young woman was most likely a professional performer. It is possible that she is the Melbourne pianist Miss Rebecca Nordt (once engaged to Baron Ferdinand von Mueller), who was a prominent solo performer in Ballarat and Melbourne at this time.