Scarred Survivor
SOLD October 2011 |
Quarter plate daguerreotype of a proud, smiling man with scars and injuries visible to his heavily-tanned face. Anonymous American circa 1850. With applied color in red. Housed in a full pressed-leather case.
A crisply detailed image of a man whose alert glance projects a solid, self-possessed pride, not entirely unfriendly. His dark skin appears to be heavily tanned, and there is a scar above and to the left of his left eye. A much more extensive injury is visible to the left of his mouth.
What are we to make of this combination? The cut beside his mouth goes well beyond the typical saber wound, but may well be war-related. On the other hand, dueling is also a possibility, as witnessed by America's seventh President, Andrew Jackson, who was said to have "rattled like a bag of marbles" from unextracted bullets received upon the field of honor. This gent's wounds might also result from encounters with wilderness threats such as wild animals or Native Americans.
In any case our sitter has clearly survived the challenges fate choose to toss his way, and with some measure of aplomb.
This fine quarter plate image is in excellent condition. Some small mat abrasions at edges and a straggly small scratch, probably original to production, near mat edge at left. Case has moderate wear.
