Historical information

One of a pair of separate half-length studio portraits of an unidentified man and a woman photographed using the daguerreotype process. Both portraits are contained within pinchbeck frames, bound in brown-tooled leather cases, with red, cut-velvet binding. Each daguerreotype required an individual negative, presented to the sitter as a positive, and was not reproducible. Due to an exposure time that could extend to many minutes, people were often seated for portraits. Sitters were almost exclusively drawn from the middle to upper classes because of the cost of production of the photograph.

Significance

It is assumed that the subjects of the two daguerreotypes were unidentified members of Gwen Steele's family. They are the earliest photographs in the pictures collection.

Physical description

Half-length studio portraits of an unidentified woman photographed using the daguerreotype process. The portrait is contained within a pinchbeck frame, bound in a brown-tooled leather cases, with red, cut-velvet binding. The portrait of the woman is notable for her centre-parted hairstyle with the fullness of the hair drawn into a single chignon at the base of the neck. This style set off the tilted-back angle of bonnets and hats. The seated woman wears a dark silk day dress with a voluminous skirt. The bodice is set-off by a large lace collar on its high neckline and at the cuffs.