Before the invention of photography, the appearance of famous and historical figures was documented in statues, paintings, engravings, and written sources. However, such depictions aren’t exactly accurate, as artistic limitations and biases can make the person look different from reality. Thankfully, when photography came about, it changed how well-known people are recorded, and now we can see them truly as they were.
To celebrate this and remind us how fortunate we are to be able to take such a glimpse into history, Bored Panda compiled a list of historical figures who lived long enough to be photographed. Scroll down to find it below, and don’t forget to upvote those pictures that left you star-struck.
Nowadays, people also make use of AI to visualize how historical figures might have looked. For instance, in 2022, a digital artist gained popularity for using AI technology to recreate the faces of Roman emperors from their busts. There’s even a Hello History AI tool that allows people to chat with anyone from the past and have lifelike conversations with historical figures.
#22 M. Lefebre, One Of The Last Surviving Veterans Of Napoleon's Army, 1858
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30points
However, photography still remains the most accurate way that allows us to see historical figures, which we should never take for granted. For more interesting historical photos, make sure to check out this post on more historical figures or this one on rare historical images.
#33 Portrait Of Charles Dickens, Between 1867 And 1868
25points
#38 Daniel F. Bakeman, The Last Surviving Soldier Of The Revolutionary War, 1868
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23points
