Lucy A. Brainard and three other women
SubjectPortrait of
Lucy Abigail Brainard
American, 1832 - 1908
PhotographerPhotographed by
Unknown
Date1856-1857
MediumDaguerreotype; silver-coated copper plate in brass window mat package in tooled leather-covered wooden case; red velvet pad on it in left side of open case.
DimensionsPlate (height x width): 3 1/4 × 2 3/4in. (8.3 × 7cm)
Other (height x width x depth): 3 5/8 × 3 1/8 × 1/2in. (9.2 × 7.9 × 1.3cm)
Other (height x width x depth): 3 5/8 × 3 1/8 × 1/2in. (9.2 × 7.9 × 1.3cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineGift of Newton Case Brainard
DescriptionSixth plate daguerreotype of Lucy A. Brainard and three other women. The plate is a bit dark and the details are difficult to make out.
Lucy is on the bottom left. She is wearing a bonnet tied under her chin, its wide ribbons reaching her (seated) waist, a fur stole, and gloves. Her dress appears to be plaid -- the skirt is just visible near the bottom of the plate. Her sleeves are wide and trimmed with ruffles.
Lucy's left arm is linked with the woman sitting next to her, who is wearing a bonnet tied under her chin with long gingham ribbons. She, too, wears a fur stole and gloves. She is also wearing a patterned wrap.
The two women behind Lucy and her friend are standing, facing each other. The woman on the left (behind Lucy) is wearing a bonnet, a fur stole, and what appears to be a wrap or cape. Her gloved right hand is resting on Lucy's shoulder.
The woman on the right is holding a tassel of some kind and looking intently at her friend as she dangles it in front of her. She is wearing a bonnet like the others, but instead of furs, she wears a plaid shawl. Her wide sleeve is visible, and she wears a lacy undersleeve.
There was a second photo initially adhered to the velvet pad on the side of the case facing the daguerreotype, but because it was transferring dirt (and oil, possibly) to the glass plate, it was removed. It seems to be a photo on fabric, of an unidentified man. Nothing further is known about the sitter or the photo.
Lucy is on the bottom left. She is wearing a bonnet tied under her chin, its wide ribbons reaching her (seated) waist, a fur stole, and gloves. Her dress appears to be plaid -- the skirt is just visible near the bottom of the plate. Her sleeves are wide and trimmed with ruffles.
Lucy's left arm is linked with the woman sitting next to her, who is wearing a bonnet tied under her chin with long gingham ribbons. She, too, wears a fur stole and gloves. She is also wearing a patterned wrap.
The two women behind Lucy and her friend are standing, facing each other. The woman on the left (behind Lucy) is wearing a bonnet, a fur stole, and what appears to be a wrap or cape. Her gloved right hand is resting on Lucy's shoulder.
The woman on the right is holding a tassel of some kind and looking intently at her friend as she dangles it in front of her. She is wearing a bonnet like the others, but instead of furs, she wears a plaid shawl. Her wide sleeve is visible, and she wears a lacy undersleeve.
There was a second photo initially adhered to the velvet pad on the side of the case facing the daguerreotype, but because it was transferring dirt (and oil, possibly) to the glass plate, it was removed. It seems to be a photo on fabric, of an unidentified man. Nothing further is known about the sitter or the photo.
Object number1960.178.5
InscribedHandwritten on the case under the daguerreotype package: "2 Miss Brainard / 1 Miss Usher [?] / 3 Miss Sikes [?] & Truss [?] / [horizontal line] 1856 ["6" is crossed out and "7" written over it]"The names are very difficult to read and the transcription is uncertain.
Handwritten on paper label originally adhered to glass plate: "Lucy A. Brainard / (center) / MB"
Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
