Sixth plate half-length studio portrait ambrotype. [Virginia], circa late-1850s to early-1860s. Full thermoplastic case. 

Portrait of a cadet from the Virginia Military Institute alongside who could be his love interest. Likely taken just before or concurrent with the start of the Civil War, he almost certainly went on to fight with the Confederate army. A sweet photograph, the cadet rests his arm behind his female companion, who wore a beautiful dress to the studio. He wears the classic VMI coatee: a grey broadcloth jacket with black braiding and three rows of brass buttons. 

Approximately 1,800 VMI graduates fought in the Civil War; about 250 of them died in action. Graduates weren't the only men to take up arms for the Confederacy. VMI cadets famously were called to fight in the Battle of New Market in May 1864, a costly and heroic turn that inspired a feature film. This man in all probability was a part of that impressive legacy of service. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]