Murial Starr
(c. 1913-1916)
Medium
gelatin silver photograph
Measurements
19.6 × 12.5 cm (image)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of the Latrobe Collection, State Library of Victoria, 1992
Gallery location
Special Exhibitions Gallery
Ground Level, NGV International
About this work
Sisters May and Mina Moore established their Wellington studio-portraiture business in around 1907. May, originally trained as a painter, learned to operate the camera while Mina, a schoolteacher, gained skills in printing. Expanding their business to Australia, May established a Sydney studio in 1911 while, two years later, Mina set up a Melbourne studio, which was later taken over by photographer Ruth Hollick. The pair became known for their studio portraits of actors, artists and musicians. Using only natural light, they created dramatic images marked by a striking chiaroscuro effect (a technique involving strong contrasts of light and shade) on the faces of their subjects.
Artwork Details
Inscription
stamped in ink on support reverse u.c.: THE MINA and MAY MOORE COLLECTION / STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA
inscribed (vertically) in pencil on support reverse c.: Starr / Muriel Starr
Accession Number
PH162-1992
Department
Australian Photography
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Professor AGL Shaw AO Bequest