James H. Head

Little biographical information could be confirmed about this author beyond his name, James H. Head, and his authorship of Home Pastimes; or Tableaux Vivants. The Project Gutenberg text of that book identifies him as the author and shows it was published in Boston by J. E. Tilton and Company in 1860, with copyright entered in 1859.

In the book’s preface, he presents tableaux vivants as both an artistic practice and a form of home entertainment, aiming to encourage taste, grace, and an appreciation for visual beauty. That makes his work an interesting example of how art and amateur performance were brought into everyday domestic life in the mid-19th century.

No reliable portrait image or fuller verified life details were found during this search, so this overview focuses on the work that could be confirmed.