A photographer finds the descendants of famous historical figures to create incredible side-by-side pictures

Sophie-Claire HoellerJul 21, 2020, 00:18 IST

Frederick Douglass (left) and third great-grandson Kenneth Morris (right).Drew Gardner for Smithsonian Magazine

UK-based photographer Drew Gardner finds the descendants of famous historical figures to photograph.
He looks for descendants close in age and looks to their ancestor in the specific image he wants to replicate.
He then asks them to dress and pose like their famous forebears.
This results in stunning side-by-side images of ancestors and their descendants in which they often look eerily alike.

UK-based photographer Drew Gardner has spent 15 years tracking down the look-alike descendants of famous historical figures for his project, "The Descendants."

So far, Gardner has photographed 20 people, placing their images next to those of their prominent ancestors, such as Fredrick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, to show their resemblance.

As he worked on the series, Gardner said he "stopped to think of ways that I could gently challenge" the viewer, and remind them of the past, which "wasn't just a bunch of white dudes running around."

Gardner's work — in particular, the image of Thomas Jefferson alongside his Black descendant, Shannon LaNier — is especially poignant amid the Black Lives Matter movement and recent protests demanding racial justice.

"Little did I know that the timing of the release would coincide with the biggest civil rights movement since the 1960s," Gardner said of his series.

Keep scrolling to see more of his work.

Photographer Drew Gardner had the idea for his series, "The Descendants," when his mother told him he looked just like his grandfather, whom he'd never met.

Drew Gardner and Thomas Jefferson's descendant, Shannon LaNier. Drew Gardner

He started with famous European figures like Napoleon, Charles Dickens, and the woman who posed for Leonardo da Vinci, better known as Mona Lisa.

Lisa del Giocondo, also known as the Mona Lisa (right) and 15th great-granddaughter Irina Guicciardini Strozzi (left). Drew Gardner

But about five years ago he said he started getting "uncomfortable," noting that his work featured mostly white men. He has since worked to diversify his portfolio with women and people of color.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (left) and third great-granddaughter Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin (right). Drew Gardner for Smithsonian Magazine

But about five years ago he said he started getting "uncomfortable," noting that his work featured mostly white men. He has since worked to diversify his portfolio with women and people of color.

Gardner says finding people for his series can be tricky.

Robert Falcon Scott (right) and grandson Falcon Scott (left). Drew Gardner

To find subjects for his series, the photographer says he does a web search, studies family trees, and when he thinks he's found a viable descendant, he confirms it with a genealogist.

Emmeline Pankhurst (right) and great-granddaughter Helen Pankhurst (left). Drew Gardner

To find subjects for his series, the photographer says he does a web search, studies family trees, and when he thinks he's found a viable descendant, he confirms it with a genealogist.

Not everyone agrees to participate in Gardner's project. "It's not 'a slam dunk,' he said. "This is an odd thing to ask people."

Isambard Kingdom Brunel and third great-grandson Isambard Thomas. Drew Gardner

Some feel the weight of their past. Gardner said news anchor Shannon LaNier, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson, didn't say yes to the shoot immediately.

Thomas Jefferson (left) and sixth great-grandson Shannon LaNier (right). Drew Gardner for Smithsonian Magazine

Gardner says that the descendants most involved with their own history are the best subjects.

Frederick Douglass (left) and third great-grandson Kenneth Morris (right). Drew Gardner for Smithsonian Magazine

Gardner's main goal with his series is to get people thinking about their history — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Oliver Cromwell (right) and his ninth great-grandson Charles Bush (left). Drew Gardner

"What I'm trying to encourage is a confrontation, or a little bit of curiosity from the viewer, because history isn't cut and dried," Gardner said.

Horatio Nelson (right) and fourth great-grandson William John Raglan Horatio Tribe (left). Drew Gardner

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A photographer finds the descendants of famous historical figures to create incredible side-by-side pictures

Photographer Drew Gardner had the idea for his series, "The Descendants," when his mother told him he looked just like his grandfather, whom he'd never met.

He started with famous European figures like Napoleon, Charles Dickens, and the woman who posed for Leonardo da Vinci, better known as Mona Lisa.

But about five years ago he said he started getting "uncomfortable," noting that his work featured mostly white men. He has since worked to diversify his portfolio with women and people of color.

Gardner says finding people for his series can be tricky.

To find subjects for his series, the photographer says he does a web search, studies family trees, and when he thinks he's found a viable descendant, he confirms it with a genealogist.

Not everyone agrees to participate in Gardner's project. "It's not 'a slam dunk,' he said. "This is an odd thing to ask people."

Some feel the weight of their past. Gardner said news anchor Shannon LaNier, a descendant of Thomas Jefferson, didn't say yes to the shoot immediately.

Gardner says that the descendants most involved with their own history are the best subjects.

Gardner's main goal with his series is to get people thinking about their history — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

"What I'm trying to encourage is a confrontation, or a little bit of curiosity from the viewer, because history isn't cut and dried," Gardner said.