Chloe Holcomb Cornish
PhotographerPhotographed by
Augustus Washington
(American, 1820 - 1875)
After a work byAfter a work by
Unknown
SubjectPortrait of
Chloe Holcomb
(American, 1800 - 1837)
Dateabout 1850
MediumPhotography; daguerreotype on silvered copper plate in leather-covered wood case with gilt mat and embossed red velvet pad
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 2 3/4 x 2 1/8in. (7 x 5.4cm)
Plate (height x width): 3 x 2 1/2in. (7.6 x 6.4cm)
Other (case height x width x depth): 3 3/4 x 3 1/4 x 5/8in. (9.5 x 8.3 x 1.6cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Yale Hall
Object number1969.14.1
DescriptionBust-length profile portrait of a young woman wearing a dress with a lace collar and a comb in her hair.
Oval brass mat is plain except for a narrow foliate border around the edge of the oval.
Red velvet pad has a central design depicting an urn with scrollwork in the four corners.
The upper case is blind-stamped with a central flower or snowflake surrounded with scrollwork and and outer border of wavy lines. The lower case bears the photographer's imprint surrounded by intricate foliate borders.
Oval brass mat is plain except for a narrow foliate border around the edge of the oval.
Red velvet pad has a central design depicting an urn with scrollwork in the four corners.
The upper case is blind-stamped with a central flower or snowflake surrounded with scrollwork and and outer border of wavy lines. The lower case bears the photographer's imprint surrounded by intricate foliate borders.
Label TextChloe Holcomb Cornish died in 1837, two years before the invention of photography. The original of this daguerreotype, a drawing showing Chloe as a young woman, was probably made in the 1820s. This unique drawing, probably the only record of Chloe's appearance, would have been cherished by her family. With the invention of photography, it was easy to produce copies of such precious family mementoes. This daguerreotype copy of the drawing was made by Augustus Washington about 1850, possibly for one of Chloe's two sons.
NotesMedium Note: This daguerreotype is a copy of a drawing or pastel, which appears to show Chloe Holcomb Cornish as a young woman, well before her death at age thirty-seven. (Finlay 7/7/2012)Subject Note: The subject, Chloe Holcomb Cornish was born on 10 September 1800. She married Virgil Cornish, and they had two sons, Joel and Dwight. She died on 26 November 1837. (Harlow 4/17/1969)
Status
Not on view
