Portrait of a Man
Medium
daguerreotype
Dimensions
image (visible): 7.1 × 5.9 cm (2 13/16 × 2 5/16 in.) mat: 8.2 × 6.8 cm (3 1/4 × 2 11/16 in.) case (closed): 9.2 × 8.2 × 1.6 cm (3 5/8 × 3 1/4 × 5/8 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon
Accession Number
2025.12.5
Art Historical Context
Step into the dawn of photography with *Portrait of a Man*, captivating daguerreotype created around 1848 by brothers Marcus Aurelius Root and Root, pioneering American photographers. This intimate image, measuring just 7.1 × 5.9 cm, captures the solemn gaze of an unidentified sitter against a simple backdrop, housed in a protective case typical of the era. The Roots, who ran successful studios in Philadelphia and beyond, were masters of this nascent medium, blending artistry with technical innovation. Daguerreotypes like this one—made on silvered copper plates exposed to mercury vapor—repres...