Major David B. Bridgford, Provost Marshal Jackson's Corps
1869
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Mount: 32.1 × 30.6 cm (12 5/8 × 12 1/16 in.) Image: 9.4 × 5.6 cm (3 11/16 × 2 3/16 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.1218b
Art Historical Context
This striking albumen silver print from 1869 captures Major David B. Bridgford, who served as Provost Marshal of Jackson's Corps during the American Civil War. a key figure in Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's command, Bridgford enforced military discipline, managing arrests, intelligence, and order amid the chaos of battle. Produced just four years after the war end, this portrait reflects the era's fascination with documenting veterans, preserving their likenesses as symbols of sacrifice and resilience. The medium—albumen silver print—was the gold standard of 19th-century photography,...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...