Figure 1.-- This Daguerreotype portrait of a boy aboy 5 years old. The boy is named in the protective case, but the writing is difficult to make out. We seem to see Thomas Smith, but can't make out the rest of the writing. Hopefully readers will be able to pick out some of the other words in the names. Put your cursor on the image to see the writing in the case.

This Daguerreotype portrait of a boy aboy 5 years old. The boy is named in the protective case, but the writing is difficult to make out. We seem to see Thomas Smith, but can't make out the rest of the writing. Hopefully readers will be able to pick out some of the other words in the names. The names could have been the parent's name who ordered the portrait. The boys wears a button up tunic with a small ruffeled collar and no bow. The portrait has been colorized. Note blue has been selected. We suspect that the color is accurate, but we are not at all sure about the shade. I seem to see "color dress Blue" on the third line. Presumably that was instructions to the colorizer. Note that the boy's tunic was referred to as a dress. I am not sure his mother or people in the fashion industry woukd have used this term. The portrait is undated. Ww suspect it dates to the 1840s, in part because of the simple brass frame plate. More ornate frames were common in the 1850s, although this assessment is only suggestive, not definitive. Notice that the boys holds a small basket. This may mean that the portrait was taken in the spring fof Easter. Note that his boy's thumb is hooked into his tunic above a button for support. This presumably was instructions given by the portutarist.

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Created: 5:34 PM 12/25/2008
Last edited: 5:34 PM 12/25/2008