Jean Armour Burns Brown at Burns Cottage, Alloway

A monochrome photographic print of a direct descendant of Robert Burns, taken in front of his birthplace.   Jean Armour Burns Brown was the great granddaughter of Robert Burns, descended through Robert Burns junior, the poet's eldest son. From the time she was a young woman she was said to bear an uncanny resemblance to her famous forebear.   Because of this she became something of a celebrity in her own right, touring in Scotland and North America. She was regularly invited to ceremonies and events associated with Robert Burns and occurs in many photographs from the 1890s onwards until her death in 1937.   This photograph, taken in front of Burns Cottage at Alloway shows her with an unknown woman companion. Both are carrying bouquets, presented to mark her visit. The photograph is by The Burns Photographic Studio of Alloway.