Sixth Plate

A STUDENT’S TIE. Although this lad probably wasn’t an aristocrat’s son, that fancy neckerchief he wore seemed a bit above his station in life. Or maybe his mother had a fine sense of fashion and dressed him accordingly for this resealed sixth plate portrait! The dutiful boy sat silently and looked directly into the lens, as he had no doubt been instructed to do. He had placed both hands on his thighs. All those teeny white specks mostly disappear when the complete leather case is opened and the sitter is studied. There is a large brown spot on his vest and a smaller one above the back of that wooden child?s chair. Oxidation touched the oval brass mat. Nice contrast and deep depth complete the effort done about 1849.