Edward Curtis May; Caroline May (née Hooper)
- Artist: William Vick
- Date: 1870
- Medium: albumen carte-de-visite
- Dimensions: 3 5/8 in. x 2 1/4 in. (91 mm x 58 mm) image size
- Portrays: Caroline May (née Hooper), Edward Curtis May
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This small albumen carte‑de‑visite from the 1870s shows Quaker ministers Edward and Caroline May, both in their mid‑seventies, sharing a quiet moment over a letter. The image—about 3 5/8 inches by 2 1/4 inches (91 mm × 58 mm)—places Edward to the left with his gaze turned thoughtfully out of frame, while Caroline looks straight ahead, her hands resting on the paper. Their simple linen shirts and worn hats suggest a modest lifestyle, fitting for itinerant preachers in East London’s poor neighborhoods.
William Vick produced this portrait; he was a photographer who worked until 1911. Edward, born into a devout Hampshire family and the eldest of nine children, served as physician and active temperance and anti‑vivisection advocate. His brothers included chemist Charles May and match‑maker Francis Bryant & May. Nothing is recorded about Caroline’s early life before her marriage to Edward in 1822; she joined him in preaching in Tottenham and led the couple through a long ministry together. This tiny print preserves their shared devotion in a quiet, personal gesture over the letter.
See it in person
Edward Curtis May; Caroline May (née Hooper) is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
