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15 Side-By-Side Portraits Of Famous Historical Figures And Their Direct Descendants
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
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Thomas Jefferson (Left), 1800 And Shannon Lanier (Right) Sixth Great-Grandson Of Thomas Jefferson
Leo Domitrix 5 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?" :-)
You could say the series began 15 years ago when Gardner's mother told him that he looked a lot like his grandfather. "It got me thinking if I [really] looked like my grandfather and if people alive today would bear any resemblance to famous forebears," the photographer told Bored Panda.
There are a number of criteria based on which Gardner chooses the photos he's going to recreate but the more iconic an image is, the better. "It is important that no matter what the person’s achievement that there is a degree of recognition or familiarity. This is not always possible but it is my starting point."
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#2
Charles Dickens (Left), 1858 And Gerald Charles Dickens (Right) Dickens's, Great-Great-Grandson
The Internet helps Gardner track down the descendants, but he also works with genealogists and museums. The true magic, however, happens when the photographer starts working with his models. The whole process allows Gardner to form strong connections with the people standing in front of his camera. "Any human connection tends to come about from conversation, so it is more as a result of the dialogue between the two of us in the days, weeks, months or even years running up to the shoot which gives me a 'window' to them as a person and when they expand on their understanding of their forebear, it does deepen the mutual understanding and connection we have, which clearly helps when it comes to the shoot," Gardner explained.
"Sometimes through the viewfinder, I feel a flash of recognition, though I am never sure if it is wishful thinking or more." As for the resemblance, Gardner leaves the viewer to make up their own mind on that. "I do not set out to say that the descendant does or does not look like their forebear."
#3
Emeline Pankhurst (Left) And Helen Pankhurst (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Emeline Pankhurst
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
She's a dead ringer for her great grandmother. Both beautiful. and indomitable.
Paul Jordan 5 years ago
Jeepers if they ever do a film about her they got the right person to play her. That is so freaking similar its, well freaking. me. out.
Sam T Godfrey 5 years ago
Maybe it is the same woman! Who the heck is Emiline Pankhurst anyway?
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
likeness is strange in this instance. Helen must be a descendant down the male line to no DNA from from Emeline would be present to carry the features.
#4
Napoleon (Left), 1812 And Hugo De Salis (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Napoleon
#5
Oliver Cromwell (Left), 1653-1654 And Charles Bush (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Oliver Cromwell
#6
Frederick Douglass (Left), 1863 And Reuben L. Andrews (Right)
#7
Charles II (Left), 1653 And Lord Charles Fitzroy (Right) The 9 Times Great-Grandson Of Charles II
#8
Liza De Giocondo (The Mona Lisa) (Left) And Irina Guicciardini Strozzi (Right) The 15 Times Great Granddaughter Of Liza De Giocondo
#9
Berthe Morisot (Left), 1872 And Lucie Rouart (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Berthe Morisot
#10
Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Of Wellingston (Left), 1824 And Jeremy Clyde (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of The 1st Duke Of Wellington
#11
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Left), 1850 And Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin (Right)
#12
William Wordsworth (Left), 1798 Andtom Wontner (Right) Wordsworth's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson
#13
Horatio Nelson (Left), 1800 And William John Raglan Horatio Tribe (Right) Nelson's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson
#14
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1857 (Left) And Isambard Thomas (Right), Brunel's Great-Great-Great-Grandson
#15
Clive Of India, Robert Clive, 1773 (Left) And Robert Holden (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Clive Of India
Annemarie Mattheyse 5 years ago
The major difference: Clive of India likely didn't have teeth...
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What do you think ?
Cori 5 years ago
I wonder how much the matching clothes and backgrounds effect our perception. I tried hard to ignore them and just concentrate on the faces.
Seabeast 5 years ago
Yes, once you get past a 3x great grandparent, that DNA is pretty diluted. Unless some of your ancestors married their cousins and doubled up on some strands, you're getting about 3% or less from the famous ancestor.
Load More Replies...
Mad Mar 5 years ago
I am a descendant of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, who wrote Uncle Toms Cabln. And of Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star Spangled Banner.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know who ~half of these people were.
BoredPundits 5 years ago
Yes, it would have been helpful, if the original poster had included a brief bio as to who they all were.
Load More Replies...
The Other Jake 5 years ago
Several of these look nothing like their ancestors except for the outfits.
Blackheart 5 years ago
I love this post and just really interested in things like this. I just wonder sometimes, who stood where I am standing, who lived in my home before I did. And I wonder about my ancestors, about their personalities, etc.
Anton Kider 5 years ago
I wonder whether I resemble any relative of mine from the first century.
Laura Lawson 5 years ago
We also have to remember that the painted portrait depends greatly on the artistic ability of the painter. Faces are notoriously difficult to paint & not every artist has this talent. Plus there is often a lot of....artistic licence going on. To make it as a portrait artist, it helps if you are flattering to the subject! Queen Victoria was absolutely massive in her later years but you would never know as in every known portrait artists would shave many pounds off of her figure to stay in her favour. Her remaining clothing told the truth though!
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
I'm so jealous of people who can trace their families back that far. There are so many adoptions in my family that I can't trace anyone past my grandparents and one great grandparent.
Tammy Ralph 5 years ago
People see what they want to see, most of these bear no resemblance whatsoever except the obvious clothes, hair and facial expressions.
pear blossom 5 years ago
I'm related to Ronnie Waldman, who married Lana Morris, a famous British actress in the 20th century.
Cheryl Buckner 5 years ago
charles 2nd had 21 children from all of his mistresses camilla parker bowles is a descendant as was princess diana
Catherine Spencer-Mills 5 years ago
It would depend on which ancestor you picked as to how much I resembled them. Some I don't resemble at all, others very much so. Did they pick the descendant who bore the most resemblance for these pictures?
Floortje Zeebregts 5 years ago
I am a descendant of my father, but you can hardly see it now...
Mimi M 5 years ago (edited)
Sorry to bust the bubble. but the only thing that DNA tests confirmed was that one of Sally Hemming's children (Eston) shared DNA with a Jefferson male. No proof of who it was - there were several possibilities - and definitely no proof that it was Thomas Jefferson.
Bettye McKee 5 years ago
I was very impressed by the pains taken to replicate the original likeness. This is an interesting article. It's apparent that a lot of work went into this project.
ReaRae 5 years ago
My great-great-great-great grandfather is Chaim Weizmann, the 1st President Of Israel
Katie Taylor 5 years ago
I had an ancestor named Arthur Adams, who was apparently a rather well-to-do steel merchant back in the UK. We have a well preserved black and white photograph of him, and he looks *exactly* like my grandfather. You can see my mother in him as well, especially around the eyes and nose. It's uncanny.
Cori 5 years ago
I wonder how much the matching clothes and backgrounds effect our perception. I tried hard to ignore them and just concentrate on the faces.
Seabeast 5 years ago
Yes, once you get past a 3x great grandparent, that DNA is pretty diluted. Unless some of your ancestors married their cousins and doubled up on some strands, you're getting about 3% or less from the famous ancestor.
Load More Replies... Mad Mar 5 years ago
I am a descendant of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, who wrote Uncle Toms Cabln. And of Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star Spangled Banner.
Chris DiFonso 5 years ago
I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know who ~half of these people were.
BoredPundits 5 years ago
Yes, it would have been helpful, if the original poster had included a brief bio as to who they all were.
Load More Replies... The Other Jake 5 years ago
Several of these look nothing like their ancestors except for the outfits.
Blackheart 5 years ago
I love this post and just really interested in things like this. I just wonder sometimes, who stood where I am standing, who lived in my home before I did. And I wonder about my ancestors, about their personalities, etc.
Anton Kider 5 years ago
I wonder whether I resemble any relative of mine from the first century.
Laura Lawson 5 years ago
We also have to remember that the painted portrait depends greatly on the artistic ability of the painter. Faces are notoriously difficult to paint & not every artist has this talent. Plus there is often a lot of....artistic licence going on. To make it as a portrait artist, it helps if you are flattering to the subject! Queen Victoria was absolutely massive in her later years but you would never know as in every known portrait artists would shave many pounds off of her figure to stay in her favour. Her remaining clothing told the truth though!
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
I'm so jealous of people who can trace their families back that far. There are so many adoptions in my family that I can't trace anyone past my grandparents and one great grandparent.
Tammy Ralph 5 years ago
People see what they want to see, most of these bear no resemblance whatsoever except the obvious clothes, hair and facial expressions.
pear blossom 5 years ago
I'm related to Ronnie Waldman, who married Lana Morris, a famous British actress in the 20th century.
Cheryl Buckner 5 years ago
charles 2nd had 21 children from all of his mistresses camilla parker bowles is a descendant as was princess diana
Catherine Spencer-Mills 5 years ago
It would depend on which ancestor you picked as to how much I resembled them. Some I don't resemble at all, others very much so. Did they pick the descendant who bore the most resemblance for these pictures?
Floortje Zeebregts 5 years ago
I am a descendant of my father, but you can hardly see it now...
Mimi M 5 years ago (edited)
Sorry to bust the bubble. but the only thing that DNA tests confirmed was that one of Sally Hemming's children (Eston) shared DNA with a Jefferson male. No proof of who it was - there were several possibilities - and definitely no proof that it was Thomas Jefferson.
Bettye McKee 5 years ago
I was very impressed by the pains taken to replicate the original likeness. This is an interesting article. It's apparent that a lot of work went into this project.
ReaRae 5 years ago
My great-great-great-great grandfather is Chaim Weizmann, the 1st President Of Israel
Katie Taylor 5 years ago
I had an ancestor named Arthur Adams, who was apparently a rather well-to-do steel merchant back in the UK. We have a well preserved black and white photograph of him, and he looks *exactly* like my grandfather. You can see my mother in him as well, especially around the eyes and nose. It's uncanny.
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