Studio portrait of a young woman wearing a crocheted shawl and holding a book. Ballarat, mid 1870s.

Albumen print photograph, carte de visite format, 102 x 62 mm (mount); verso of mount imprinted ‘Bardwell, Ballarat. Photographer By Special Appointment to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and His Excellency Sir George Bowen. Awarded the three First Prize Medals at the International Exhibition 1872-3, and the First Gold Medal from the South Kensington Exhibition 1873-4, for Excellence in Photography’; the print has a tiny surface scratch at upper right, but is otherwise in very good condition, as is the mount.

This lovely portrait of a young Ballarat woman holding a book (a Holy Bible – or a photograph album?) came from a distressed album presented by Alfred William Goddard (Ballarat 1857-1910 Prahran) to his second wife Sarah Jane (Fountain) (Ballarat 1858-1925 Richmond), in 1887. Is it perhaps a portrait of Sarah Fountain prior to her marriage to Alfred in 1879?

Alfred Goddard’s first wife, Dorothy Gunther (also a native of Ballarat) had died some time prior to 1879. Alfred  married Sarah Fountain, daughter of Joseph Fountain of Canadian Gully, at St. Paul’s Ballarat East, on 9 April 1879. The couple then moved to Melbourne, where they resided at Bowen Villa, 13 Donald Street, Prahran, up until Alfred’s death in 1910. The couple had three children: George Herbert, who died in 1908, Steven (“Steve”), and Stephanie. An obituary for Alfred was published in the Malvern Standard, 15 October 1910:

‘Mr Alfred Goddard. It is with much regret that we have to record the death of Mr Alfred Goddard, of Donald street, Prahran, which took place on Thursday afternoon last at the Alfred Hospital. Mr Goddard was 52 years of age, and leaves a widow, who will receive the deepest sympathy in her sad bereavement. The deceased gentleman was some years ago connected with the Post Office, but for many years he was afterwards connected with Singer’s Sewing Machine Co, and by his ability and tact prove himself a very successful agent. He was one of the earliest members of the Prahran branch of the A N.A. and the Natives will feel the loss of a valued member, friend, and adviser. Mr Goddard, senr, is a resident of Ballarat.‘

After Alfred’s death, Sarah took another husband, Mr. J. David. She died in Richmond, Melbourne, in 1925.