Oval portrait of a man
Photograph
ca.1840 (made)
ca.1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The daguerreotype process was introduced to the public in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, and was hugely popular as a medium for portraiture until the middle of the 1850s. To create a daguerreotype, a silver plated sheet was given a light sensitive surface coating of iodine vapour. After a long exposure in the camera, the image was developed over heated mercury and fixed in a common salt solution. The image lies on a mirror-like surface and is best seen from an angle to minimise reflections.
This daguerreotype portrait is cased and gilt framed.
This daguerreotype portrait is cased and gilt framed.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Oval portrait of a man (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Daguerreotype, glass, copper, tinted, gilt mount, leather and velvet case. |
| Brief description | Daguerreotype photographic portrait of a man, hand tinted, mounted in a case, probably made in Britain, c.1840 |
| Physical description | One of two mounted daquerreotypes in hinged wood case covered with embossed leather.Faded, oval portrait of a man, cased and gilt framed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | The daguerreotype process was introduced to the public in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, and was hugely popular as a medium for portraiture until the middle of the 1850s. To create a daguerreotype, a silver plated sheet was given a light sensitive surface coating of iodine vapour. After a long exposure in the camera, the image was developed over heated mercury and fixed in a common salt solution. The image lies on a mirror-like surface and is best seen from an angle to minimise reflections. This daguerreotype portrait is cased and gilt framed. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 336-1961 |
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| Record created | June 12, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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