Mario Helne Photographed by Gardnew

As you know from reading this blog, physique photography finds its roots in images of circus and freak-show performers and strongmen, who posed for cameras across North America, Australia and Europe in the 1860's to the early twentieth century.

In 1898, Garnew took this photograph of handsome Mario Helne in Boston, Massachusetts.

Mario was likely a popular athlete or performer of some kind.