6
[Daguerreotype] c. 1855 Militia Officer
Estimate:
$750 - $1,250
Sold
$2,800
Live Auction
The Herb Peck Collection of Civil War Photography
Description
Quarter plate hand-tinted & gilt daguerreotype. Leatherette case. Anonymous artist.
Antebellum military photography tends to be some of the most interesting and well-composed subject matter of the daguerrian era, if only because it captured the pomp and circumstance associated with mid-19th century militia units. This particular subject, a middle-aged officer, strikes an almost Continental Army-esque visage with his neatly tailored two-tone jacket and pants, patent leather belt, and tall, plumed chapeau. A pair of leather gloves, tinted a subtle yellow by the studio’s artist, may be one of portrait’s most striking details. Gold tinting is evident throughout.
Many militia units from both the North and South drew inspiration from the Revolutionary War era. This is a stunning and nearly flawless image, presented in a large quarter-plate format.
[Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, Carte-de-visite, CDV, Albumen, Mexican War, Mexican American War, Civil War, Slavery, Abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Early Photography]
Provenance note: Herb Peck assembled one of the first and greatest collections of historic American photography before it was stolen in 1978 from his Nashville home. Once thought lost forever, authorities recently traced an unexpected clue and discovered many of Herb’s images unscathed after nearly 45 years in hiding. These daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes comprise one of the most important collections of Civil War portrait photography ever curated. Herb Peck was a true pioneer who understood both the historic and artistic merit of portraits showing the common Civil War soldier at a time when they were often overlooked. These photographs are deeply important to our shared American history, and Fleischer's Auctions is proud to make them publicly available on behalf of the Peck family.
Antebellum military photography tends to be some of the most interesting and well-composed subject matter of the daguerrian era, if only because it captured the pomp and circumstance associated with mid-19th century militia units. This particular subject, a middle-aged officer, strikes an almost Continental Army-esque visage with his neatly tailored two-tone jacket and pants, patent leather belt, and tall, plumed chapeau. A pair of leather gloves, tinted a subtle yellow by the studio’s artist, may be one of portrait’s most striking details. Gold tinting is evident throughout.
Many militia units from both the North and South drew inspiration from the Revolutionary War era. This is a stunning and nearly flawless image, presented in a large quarter-plate format.
[Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, Carte-de-visite, CDV, Albumen, Mexican War, Mexican American War, Civil War, Slavery, Abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Early Photography]
Provenance note: Herb Peck assembled one of the first and greatest collections of historic American photography before it was stolen in 1978 from his Nashville home. Once thought lost forever, authorities recently traced an unexpected clue and discovered many of Herb’s images unscathed after nearly 45 years in hiding. These daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes comprise one of the most important collections of Civil War portrait photography ever curated. Herb Peck was a true pioneer who understood both the historic and artistic merit of portraits showing the common Civil War soldier at a time when they were often overlooked. These photographs are deeply important to our shared American history, and Fleischer's Auctions is proud to make them publicly available on behalf of the Peck family.
Condition
As represented. For a full condition report, please email us.
Medium
As described.
Provenance
Herb Peck Collection