Anonymous American Photographer

half-plate daguerreotype, extensively hand-colored, in an elaborate gilt-edged lacquered mat with mother-of-pearl inlay, in a half-case, 1850s

This remarkable daguerreotype is in essentially excellent condition. The plate delivers a multitude of details; the heavily-freckled face of the central figure is rendered with admirable clarity. Tarnish is visible around the figures, especially at the bottom of the oval. While this is noticeable, it is not intrusive, and actually enhances the bright patterns of the younger girls' dresses and the beautifully-lit upturned face of the eldest central girl. An old or original seal is present, but no longer intact. There is a faint scratch on the face of the cover glass, to the left of the central girl's head.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This wholly unconventional daguerreotype is remarkable for a number of reasons.  Its portrayal of a dramatic scene, with religious overtones, anticipates work that would be done in subsequent decades by photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Henry Peach Robinson, Oscar Rejlander, and, later, F. Holland Day.  The emotional content of this image, as well as its narrative elements, are rare qualities for photographs created in the daguerreian era.  The closest corollaries, perhaps, are presented by the religiously-themed images of American daguerreotypist Gabriel Harrison.  Also similar to this daguerreotype in emotional tenor is Jeremiah Gurney's half-plate study of a young girl with her arms crossed, in the collection of Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City (Davis, The Origins of American Photography 1839-1885, pl. 44).

Also exceptional is the hand-coloring, which is rendered with great subtlety and skill and adds a great deal to the richness of the tableau.  The iridescent colors in the finely crafted lacquered and inlaid mat complement the subtler coloration of the image.