Unidentified photographer
n.d.
Early Quill Pen Writer & Copy

Daguerreotype, 1/6 plate
Larry Gottheim, Be-hold, Inc
Courtesy of Larry Gottheim - Be-Hold (50 / 3)
 
Two 1/6 plates. One is in an octagonal mat. It's a portrait of a young man with long hair holding a quill pen. There are lines on the paper to simulate writing. His other arm sticks out at a sharp angle, a typical pose of early portraits. A curtain at the right gives compositional balance, and there is some texture seen of the wall behind. There is light tinting on the face, and blue in the background. This has a green liner and silk pad, with the design of small circles and flowers on the separated covers as found on some pre-1845 daguerreotypes. This re-silvered plate [extra silver appearing on the back of the plate] has been resealed, with original seals kept behind. [3]
 
There is a reverse pose of this same image, in an oval mat, no case. Yesterday it was clear to me that the first image was the original, and this the daguerreotypist's copy; now I think it's the reverse. The other is attractive with its extra contrast and coloring, but this has more natural tonality.
 
LL/22280