It is not known whether the Mr Lane shown is the Edinburgh actor of this name or the explorer Edward William Lane (1801-1876). His Indian costume might by explained by either identity: the explorer may have collected such clothes on his travels or the actor may have been dressed for a theatrical role. Mr Lane is posed in the open air since interiors were not light enough for a negative to be quickly produced in the 1840s. The setting of the portrait, however, does not acknowledge the open-air location and is arranged to look like an interior scene.
