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Fueled by his passion for history, photographer Drew Gardner recreated portraits of some of the world's most famous historical figures, featuring their direct descendants as models.

Getting ready for the series required much more than a few phone calls. Not only did Gardner carry out in-depth research tracing the direct descendants and verifying their lineage, but he also created sets with painstaking attention to the smallest of details. In the end, however, all of the hard work paid off. Sourcing the period costumes and props created such authentic backgrounds, they look like something straight out of a history book. Gardner even carefully analyzed the lighting in each original portrait and patiently recreated them as closely as possible, using all kinds of gear and techniques.

The end result is something that you'd find in the 'different but same' category. Of course, in a totally good way.

More info: drewgardner.com | Facebook | Instagram

#1

Thomas Jefferson (Left), 1800 And Shannon Lanier (Right) Sixth Great-Grandson Of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (Left), 1800 And Shannon Lanier (Right) Sixth Great-Grandson Of Thomas Jefferson

Drew Gardner Report

Leo Domitrix
Community Member
6 years ago

This is awesome! The history guides/docents at Jefferson's famed "Monticello" still turn colors and stutter if you ask a blunt question about Sally Hemings. If you don't know, look it up... Their white-marble-statue man must never be associated with anything but the Declaration!... So I visit there every other year and when they ask if we have questions, I ask, "Where did Sally Hemings and her kids by Jefferson sleep?" :-)

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    #2

    Charles Dickens (Left), 1858 And Gerald Charles Dickens (Right) Dickens's, Great-Great-Grandson

    Charles Dickens (Left), 1858 And Gerald Charles Dickens (Right) Dickens's, Great-Great-Grandson

    Drew Gardner Report

    tuzdayschild
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Definite resemblance

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    #3

    Emeline Pankhurst (Left) And Helen Pankhurst (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Emeline Pankhurst

    Emeline Pankhurst (Left) And Helen Pankhurst (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Emeline Pankhurst

    Drew Gardner Report

    El Dee
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This actually just looks like two photographs of the same woman!!

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    #4

    Napoleon (Left), 1812 And Hugo De Salis (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Napoleon

    Napoleon (Left), 1812 And Hugo De Salis (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Napoleon

    Drew Gardner Report

    Kevin Donegan
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The resemblance is striking.

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    #5

    Oliver Cromwell (Left), 1653-1654 And Charles Bush (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Oliver Cromwell

    Oliver Cromwell (Left), 1653-1654 And Charles Bush (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Oliver Cromwell

    Drew Gardner Report

    El Dee
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Not so much except for the NOSE, which is exactly the same!!

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    #6

    Frederick Douglass (Left), 1863 And Reuben L. Andrews (Right)

    Frederick Douglass (Left), 1863 And Reuben L. Andrews (Right)

    Drew Gardner Report

    Vanessa Yvonne
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This is Frederick Douglass, not "Fredrick Douglas"

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    #7

    Charles II (Left), 1653 And Lord Charles Fitzroy (Right) The 9 Times Great-Grandson Of Charles II

    Charles II (Left), 1653 And Lord Charles Fitzroy (Right) The 9 Times Great-Grandson Of Charles II

    Drew Gardner Report

    CG2018
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Relative of Inigo Montoya? LOL

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    #8

    Liza De Giocondo (The Mona Lisa) (Left) And Irina Guicciardini Strozzi (Right) The 15 Times Great Granddaughter Of Liza De Giocondo

     Liza De Giocondo (The Mona Lisa) (Left) And Irina Guicciardini Strozzi (Right) The 15 Times Great Granddaughter Of Liza De Giocondo

    Drew Gardner Report

    Shelp
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Wow, how did they find her?

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    #9

    Berthe Morisot (Left), 1872 And Lucie Rouart (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Berthe Morisot

    Berthe Morisot (Left), 1872 And Lucie Rouart (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Berthe Morisot

    Drew Gardner Report

    Mildred Thompson
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    YES!

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    #10

    Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Of Wellingston (Left), 1824 And Jeremy Clyde (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of The 1st Duke Of Wellington

    Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Of Wellingston (Left), 1824 And Jeremy Clyde (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of The 1st Duke Of Wellington

    Drew Gardner Report

    El Dee
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The resemblance is striking and, as with Napoleon, the build of the two is exactly the same!!

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    #11

    Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Left), 1850 And Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin (Right)

    Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Left), 1850 And Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin (Right)

    Drew Gardner Report

    Kathy Baylis
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Striking resemblance.

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    #12

    William Wordsworth (Left), 1798 Andtom Wontner (Right) Wordsworth's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    William Wordsworth (Left), 1798 Andtom Wontner (Right) Wordsworth's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    Drew Gardner Report

    Andres Tejeda
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Actually they bare a very strong resemblance.

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    #13

    Horatio Nelson (Left), 1800 And William John Raglan Horatio Tribe (Right) Nelson's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    Horatio Nelson (Left), 1800 And William John Raglan Horatio Tribe (Right) Nelson's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    Drew Gardner Report

    John D
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    Is this 'Noratio Nelsom' the generic version of Horatio Nelson? Asking for a friend.

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    #14

    Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1857 (Left) And Isambard Thomas (Right), Brunel's Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1857 (Left) And Isambard Thomas (Right), Brunel's Great-Great-Great-Grandson

    Drew Gardner Report

    Kevin Donegan
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    I'm more impressed by the size of the chain behind them. Wow!

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    #15

    Clive Of India, Robert Clive, 1773 (Left) And Robert Holden (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Clive Of India

    Clive Of India, Robert Clive, 1773 (Left) And Robert Holden (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Clive Of India

    Drew Gardner Report

    Annemarie Mattheyse
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    The major difference: Clive of India likely didn't have teeth...

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