Portrait of a Cat

Art Historical Context

Behold the charming *Portrait of a Cat* by Glenalvin Goodridge created around 1858. This intimate ambrotype captures a feline subject with remarkable clarity, housed in a compact case measuring just 9.5 × 9 × 2.1 cm when closed—perfect for carrying as a personal treasure, much like a locket. Now part of the National Gallery of Art'sPH department, it entered the collection through the Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, supported by the Ford Foundation. Ambrotypes, popular in the 1850s, were a breakthrough in photography: a unique positive image made on glass using the wet collodion process, backed with black velvet or paint to create the illusion of a richly toned print. Unlike fragile daguerreotypes, ambrotypes were more affordable and durable, democratizing portraiture during a time when photography was transitioning from novelty to everyday memento. What makes this piece especially delightful is its unconventional subject—a cat, rendered with lifelike detail in a era dominated by human portraits. Goodridge's skill highlights the era's growing affection for pets as family members, offering a whimsical glimpse into 19th-century domestic life through this tiny, treasured window.