Haunting photographs of the dead taken in Victorian age shows fad for relatives posing alongside bodies of their dearly departed

Lined up for a family photo these Victorian children look miserable as they stare sternly at the camera.

But their grim expressions may be understandable after it becomes clear they are posing for a macabre photo with their dead younger sibling who is laid out on a chair. 

These remarkable pictures show the morbid way that the deceased were remembered in the late 19th century.

Macabre: Lined up for a family photo these Victorian children look miserable as they look sternly at the camera. But their grim expressions may be understandable after it becomes clear they are posing for a macabre photo with their dead sibling who is laid out on a chair
 

Macabre: These remarkable pictures show the morbid way that the deceased were remembered in the late 19th century

Keepsake: The invention of the daguerreotype – the earliest photographic process – in 1839 brought portraiture to the masses. It was far cheaper and quicker than commissioning a painted portrait and it enabled the middle classes to have an affordable, cherished keepsake of their dead family members
 

The invention of the daguerreotype – the earliest photographic process – in 1839 brought portraiture to the masses.

It was far cheaper and quicker than commissioning a painted portrait and it enabled the middle classes to have an affordable, cherished keepsake of their dead family members.   

Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffin.

This particular style, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe but less so in the United States.

Laid out: Known as post-mortem photography, some of the dearly departed were photographed in their coffins, while others were laid out in funeral dressage
 

Trend: Post-mortem photography, often accompanied by funeral attendees, was common in Europe but less so in the United States
 

Victorian Post Mortem Tintypes: The deceased were immortalized in photographs during the Victorian era. The Victorian after-death photos continue to haunt
 

However, in others, they were made to look like they were in a deep sleep or even life-like as they were positioned next to family members.

It was an age of high infant mortality rates – and children were often shown in repose on a couch or in a crib, while adults were more commonly posed in chairs.

Sometimes the subject’s eyes were propped open or the pupils were painted onto the print to give the effect they were alive.

In early images, a rosy tint was added to the cheeks of corpses.

By the early 20th century, the practice fell out of fashion as photos became more commonplace with the arrival of the snapshot.

Tragic: It was an age of high infant mortality rates – and children were often shown in repose on a couch or in a crib, while adults were more commonly posed in chairs
 

Eerie: Sometimes the subject’s eyes were propped open or the pupils were painted onto the print to give the effect they were alive
 

Remembrance: A young child surrounded by flowers is photographed in an open coffin as a keepsake for its family
 

Effects: In early images, a rosy tint was added to the cheeks of corpses
 

Portrait: Parents pose for a photo holding the body of their little girl clothed in a white dress
 

Disturbing: An adult male is photographed as if he is asleep on a bed
 

Sign of the times: By the early 20th century, the practice fell out of fashion as photos became more commonplace with the arrival of the snapshot

 
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2450832/Victorian-photographs-relatives-posing-alongside-dead-bodies.html