State Capitol at Montpelier, VT.
n.d.
Medium
Albumen print
Dimensions
Image: 8 × 5.5 cm (3 3/16 × 2 3/16 in.); Card: 10.1 × 6.3 cm (4 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
photographic process
Department
Photography and Media
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
33487
Art Historical Context
Visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago's Photography and Media department will appreciate *State Capitol at Montpelier, VT.*, a delicate albumen print by 19th-century American photographer Watson. Capturing the iconic Vermont State with its distinctive gold dome, this undated image measures just 8 × 5.5 cm—typical of the compact carte-de-visite that made photography accessible to everyday people in the mid-1800s. Albumen prints, like this one, represent a pivotal advancement in photography. Coated with egg whites for a glossy sheen and rich tonal range, they allowed for sharp details and wa...