S. P. Peck Apothecary
c. 1850
Medium
Daguerreotype
Dimensions
8.8 × 12.1 cm (3 1/2 × 4 3/4 in.)
Classification
daguerreotype
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
33535
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Almost immediately after it was introduced in New York in September 1839, the daguerreotype became enormously popular in the United States. The first truly commercial photographic process, it was prized by millions for its precise, jewel-like detail and tonal range. To meet the public's increasing demand for these affordable portraits, photographers proliferated around the country. Most portraits were made in a studio, but itinerant operators also traveled to make images, such as this portrait o...
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...