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| D11-78. OH GRANNY . . . Where art thou now? My good friend Joe Bauman has always had an interest in all the ancient people I find in archivally sealed sixth size daguerreotypes. He is an expert on men daguerreotyped that had served our nation (doubly important on Memorial Day as I write this caption) in the Revolutionary War. I offered the suggestion in an email that this woman was a centurion when she was taken after 1850. His reply was in the affirmative. Because the subject was seated very close to that piece of fabric (her head and body shadows are just behind the chair) and she was blasted with broad window light the daguerreotypist must have journeyed to her home for the assignment. Could it have been taken on her 100th birthday? Let me say that those mat scrapes on the bottom and a single mold spider are the only impediments of potential perfection in the condition. Patina flows outwards from the oval. I am trying to remember the last time I saw such a beautiful weathered face that was reproduced with such sharpness and accuracy. The three dimensionality of her flesh and those pale eyes is almost shocking at first. If only we had a clearer peek at her aged hands with the fingers intertwined in her lap. The lady's soulful expression and the slight tilt of her head, beg the admirer to look further at that remarkable face. A light white sheer day cap contrasted against her plain gray or blue blouse. I can barely use all my fingers to count off the number of either identified or subjects that I thought were 100 years or older that I have owned. Like herself in life, the simple sitter with rouged cheeks, resides in a common leather case that is still together. $495 |
