Lot Essay
The portrait of Princess Ralefoka was taken at Anatananarivo between 26 August and 26 September. The portrait of Princess Rabodo was taken on 23 September. Ellis wrote of this sitting I then invited the Princess and her three female companions into my dwelling house while I prepared the chemicals. When I was ready the Princess having changed her head dress came out into the courtyard. She wore an olive green silk dress, and had on her head a sort of cap composed of blue ribbons, with a gilt Maltese cross in the front; small portions of her hair, very neatly braided in the Malagasy fashion, appearing about her temples on each side. She wore a rich necklace of jewels with earings to match. I asked her to sit as much at ease as possible. Having exposed the plate nearly a minute I then covered the lens and told her it was finished.