Description
The Artistry of the Mid-Century Studio
Provenance & Curation: This sixth-plate daguerreotype was identified during the 2022 “Byron Barn” extraction as a primary example of high-end studio portraiture. Curated by Professor Tom Muir Wilson (RIT), it was separated for the secure Rochester vault due to its exceptional level of detail and artistic embellishment.
Technical Specifications:
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Subject: A young child in a patterned dress, notable for the delicate hand-tinting of the cheeks—a technique Wilson often cited when teaching the evolution of color in photography.
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Backdrop: Features a rare, painted scenic landscape backdrop, indicating a high-level professional studio commission.
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Format: Sixth-plate daguerreotype (visualized with scale).
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Case Details: Housed in a leatherette Union case with a pristine, deep-rose floral embossed velvet lining.
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Condition: The plate maintains a sharp, lustrous mirror finish with a natural, subtle tarnish halo that does not infringe on the subject. The ornate scalloped brass mat is in museum-quality condition.
The Wilson Archival Connection
This piece serves as a critical link in the Craft World Tours Collection. It demonstrates the 19th-century obsession with “capturing life” through color and setting—the same drive that fueled Professor Wilson’s later global expeditions and his massive Ektachrome and slide archives in East Rochester.
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