Robert Burns' Family

A sepia toned monochrome photographic print of a montage of seven portraits on a cabinet card from the album of a local family.   Robert Burns first met his wife, Jean Armour in Mauchline in 1784 shortly after his family moved to the farm of Mossgiel close to the town. The date of their marriage is unclear and their relationship was opposed by her parents, but on the third of September 1786 she gave birth to twins, Robert and Jean, the first of a family of nine children.   At the time of Burns' death in 1796 there were five children living, the youngest born on the day of his father's funeral. This montage of portraits shows Robert Burns; Jean Armour Burns with her grand daughter, Sarah; Robert Burns junior, William Nicol Burns, James Glencairn Burns, their three sons who survived into adulthood; Robert Burns, grandson of the poet and his son, also Robert Burns.   Cabinet cards were almost always made from studio portraits, they were produced to be sold or exchanged and were collected in elaborate albums, specially made for the purpose, often with window mounts to display the cards. This cabinet card dates from the 1860s or 1870s when they were at the height of their popularity. It was produced by T. Douglas of Thornhill but the images are taken from  earlier portraits.