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| D1-132. SURLY SUBJECT. A superbly crafted resealed sixth size image presenting a sneering, serious young man who wore a dark hat pushed back over his long curly hair. He rested his large beefy left hand on the edge of a table and peered scornfully into the lens. The daguerreotypist created this stunning portrait circa 1843. There is remarkable separation considering how ebony toned that empty expanse was behind the fellow. The range of contrast is exceptional. The rugged youth wore suspenders to secure his plaid pants. I wonder if he was a sailor or roustabout on the wharves of a nameless city. Certainly he was in a location where a competent operator used nearly full-frontal illumination to capture countenances on silver clad to copper receptacles. I can't get over the strength that was revealed in the chap's face and that sturdy neck flowing out of his white shirt. The operator's patron was accustomed to physical labor and a bit of brawling too. When the next collector opens the separated case, glares will be exchanged at first, then maybe after a time the subject will soften somewhat. The marks across that headgear were part of the process. There appears to be a small scrape near the top of the mat and another one almost against the bottom. The thick layer of patina diminishes both. That narrow cloth string around his neck had a silver slide and probably was attached to his pocket watch. I purchased the outstanding piece 20 years ago at a stereopticon convention! $3,500 |
