Mystery Man of the Family

I'm continuing to look through some very old items in my hardly organized collection of family items. I can find no one in my family who recognizes the man in this photo.

The format of the photograph is called the Formato Margherita. Here's a description from the AI called Bard, developed by Google:

 Formato Margherita is an Italian photographic format that measures 12.6 x 8 cm (4.96 x 3.15 in). It was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was queen consort of Italy from 1878 to 1900. The formato margherita was introduced in the early 1900s and quickly became popular because it was larger than the previous standard format, the carte de visite (10.4 x 6.2 cm). This allowed for more detail in the photographs and made them more suitable for framing.

The formato margherita was also popular because it could be used to create postcards. This was a new way to share photographs with friends and family, and it helped to popularize the formato margherita even further.

The formato margherita remained popular until the 1950s, when it was replaced by the 35mm format. However, it is still a popular format for collectors of antique photographs.

The man is posing in a different style from the Napoleon style. 

From the Bard AI:

The posing style that is different from Napoleon's pose is called the three-quarter pose. In this pose, the subject is facing the camera at a three-quarter angle, with one arm bent at the elbow and resting on the hip, and the other arm hanging naturally at the side.

Napoleon style:

There is no specific name for Napoleon's posing style. However, it is often referred to as the Napoleonic pose or the hand-in-waistcoat pose. In this pose, the subject stands with one hand tucked into their waistcoat (or jacket) and the other hand resting on their hip. The pose is often seen as a symbol of power, authority, and confidence.

The Napoleonic pose has been used by many other historical figures, including George Washington, Winston Churchill, and Mahatma Gandhi. It is also a popular pose in modern portraiture and photography.

There are a few reasons why Napoleon might have chosen to pose this way. One possibility is that he wanted to project an image of power and authority. The hand-in-waistcoat pose can make the subject look larger and more imposing. It can also create a sense of mystery, as the hand is hidden from view.

Another possibility is that Napoleon was simply trying to be comfortable. The hand-in-waistcoat pose can help to keep the hands warm and can also provide a place to rest them.

Whatever the reason, the Napoleonic pose has become a iconic image of Napoleon and his era. It is a pose that is still used today to convey power, authority, and confidence.

Here is another photo that I think is of the same man:

Enhanced:

Maybe it will stay a mystery.