In the nineteenth century, ‘death portraiture’ or ‘post-mortem portraiture’, was a
common cultural practice. What social role did photographs of the dead play, and
why is the practice no longer as popular as it was in the nineteenth century? What is
meant by the terms ‘death portraiture’ and ‘post-mortem portraiture’? Locate 3
2
visual examples and address them in the essay. Locate scholarly articles on the
subject, and discuss the social significance of the ritualisation of memory through
memorial portraiture. Here are two possible sources but look for others and utilise
the bibliographies:
Sample Solution