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| D11-183. FOUR IN HAND. Or . . . dark, white, dark, white could be an appropriate title as any person viewing this amazing quarter plate scene would instantly suggest. The patina adds color where there was none the day the formal portrait of those four young folks was taken. That they just happened to be outside seated in a marvelous open landau, that did have a retractable passenger cover of dark oil cloth, seems ordinary enough until we all think about just how incredibly difficult it was to make such a perfect daguerreotype. Those fine animals had to be groomed and harnessed. The gentlemen wore tails and top hats while the two youthful beauties probably primped for hours before even considering stepping outdoors. Since the slender trees were filled with leaves, a few of the fine home's windows were shuttered while others were cracked open and the door remained unclosed, it must have been high summer. How warm was it that day? Nary a breeze or breath of fresh air fluffed the leaves while the daguerreian executed a five to seven second exposure. Very high thin clouds masked direct sunlight from illuminating the tableau. Those horses were simply amazing and very obedient after months of training. They remained so solitary that a block underneath the wheels of their vehicle wasn't even necessary. Surely the daguerreotypist would have insisted initially, pleading with the young adults, that after all their preparations any movement would be disastrous and they all would have been disappointed with the results. One of the men must have assured the maker with such strength and conviction that he acquiesced resulting in this monumental likeness. Casey notated on the Filmoplast after he did the archival restoration, "written on old tape 'bought from Larry Shirer San Jose CA 2-22-82'". While this is tantalizing information if I could conclusively prove that the lead pair were western horses and not common dappled grays, I might crawl out on a proverbial limb (been there before haven't I) and suggest that the maker worked west of the Mississippi River. Sorry, I can't go there. However, if a collector would like to purchase a wonderful technical and visual triumph on silver with a new leather spine on a leather case that has a brilliant green pad inside, please consider this foursome times two. I must add that the location of the camera, a few feet higher than eye level and with the lens aimed dead center on the darkness inside the door, indicates that the structure, the marvelous team and the occupants of the carriage were all of equal importance. Please notice that architecturally speaking the building, in fact the entire view was so perfectly rendered that there is no distortion. $8,500 |
