HALF PLATE DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAITS AFTER PAINTED PORTRAITS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SURGEON GUSTAVUS "GUS" BROWN HORNER, NEPHEW OF GUSTAVUS RICHARD BROWN, AND HIS WIFE FRANCES HARRISON SCOTT HORNER

A companion pair of half plate daguerreotypes capturing early painted likenesses of Dr. Gustavus Brown Horner, Sr. (1761-1815), a prominent Revolutionary War medical officer, and his wife, Frances Harrison Scott Horner (1764-1837). Each plate is housed independently in a heavy, gilded brass display frame with an octagonal inner aperture mat. Images include: 

1. Half-length painted portrait of Dr. Gustavus Brown Horner. Half plate daguerreotype after a painted portrait of Dr. Horner. A paper backing bears a detailed typeset and handwritten label reading: "Dr. Gustavus Brown Horner / 2-28-1761 – 1-24-1815 / Portrait 1807 age 46 / Daguerre-o-type of portrait after 1833." Dr. Horner is dressed in a high-collared Federal-period coat punctuated by rows of bright gilt brass buttons over a white cravat. 

2. Portrait of Frances Harrison Scott Horner. Half plate daguerreotype after a painted portrait. Brass mat. Framed. A paper backing retains a matching historical tracking label reading: "Frances Harrison Scott / (Mrs. G. B. Horner) / 1764 – 11-27-1837." Frances wears a high-waisted Federal gown with an open lace collar and an oval miniature pendant necklace, her hair wrapped in an elaborate, voluminous white lace cap or tignon.

Dr. Gustavus Brown Horner (1761-1815) was born into a prominent Maryland medical family. Horner's maternal grandfather was Scottish physician Dr. Gustavus Brown, Sr. (1689-1762), who operated a successful practice in Maryland. Most notably, Dr. Horner's maternal uncle was Gustavus Richard Brown (1747-1804), the lifelong friend of George Washington who became Surgeon-General of the Continental Army and helped found the hospital department of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Dr. Horner trained directly under the renowned Dr. Brown as his assistant during the War. In 1778, when he was just 17, he received a commission as a surgeon's mate, was stationed at Valley Forge, and for a time oversaw the personal care of the Marquis de Lafayette. 

Dr. Horner maintained an esteemed medical practice and was recorded as a resolute political defender of his close personal friend, Thomas Jefferson. In 1785, he married Frances Harrison Scott, the daughter of Revolutionary War officer Captain James Scott, in her hometown of Fairfax, Virginia. They settled at Farquier Court House (now Warrenton) and together had eight children, among them John Scott Horner (1802-1883), a notable frontier politician who became the Territorial Governor of Michigan. 

This lot presents a scarce and multi-layered historical narrative. While the daguerreotypes were manufactured in the mid-19th century, they depict much earlier, late 18th- or early 19th-century painted portraits. Families often commissioned photographs to duplicate heirloom artwork for multiple descendants. Interestingly, the painting of Dr. Brown is published in the genealogical history of the family (Frederick Horner, p. 214), though the present location is unknown. 

Finding an intact pair of early daguerreian portraits with Revolutionary War history is exceptionally difficult. 

References

Frederick Horner. The History of the Blair, Banister, and Braxton Families Before and After the Revolution with A Brief Sketch of Their Descendants. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1898, pp. 214

[American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] [Medical History, Medical Photography]  [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, Stereographs]

Very good. Both plates exhibit typical peripheral tarnish and light surface haze beneath the cover glass, with minimal wear. The matching gilded brass display frames remain structurally flat and solid, showing honest handling scuffs, minor corner rubbing, and surface scratches consistent with age.