English born Harriet Ellis, who later married and became the Duchess of Sermoneta, (noble Italian family of Sermoneta) was an active amateur photographer in the 1890’s and member of England’s Royal Photographic Society who exhibited in their annual exhibitions from 1893-96. This study of a sheep herder on a hill road overlooking a large lake was taken in Italy, perhaps close to Sermoneta, a walled hill town in central Italy with its’ castle built by the Caetani family, (1.)  of which Ellis married into. The geographic location of Bordyhesa is unknown, with the possibility existing it is erroneous and that it actually refers to another similar sounding location in Italy. We welcome further clarification on this site.

engraved: in lower right portion of plate in margin below image:

SHEEP STUDY NEAR BORDYHESA
By her Grace the Duchess of Sermoneta

Printed by the Photochrome Engraving company of New York, this unusual hand-pulled photogravure plate features a very unique printed faux chine collé background printed within the actual plate impression.

1. Sermoneta: Wikipedia: accessed: May, 2012