Marcus Aurelius Root

American, 1808 - 1888

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The image shows a head-and-shoulders portrait of a man facing slightly to the right, with his gaze directed towards the camera. His facial features include a well-groomed mustache and beard combination that frames his lips. His hair is combed back from a high forehead, with visible hair receding at the temples but styled to show soft waves. He is dressed formally in a dark coat with a white shirt underneath, along with a cravat or bow tie wrapped around his neck. The photograph is housed in an ornate frame with a gold border and has a plain dark background. The daguerreotype is enclosed in a case with a red velvet lining around the inner perimeter under the glass cover.
Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root, Portrait of a Man, c. 1848, daguerreotype, Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2025.12.5

Portrait of a Man

Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root · c. 1848 · daguerreotype ·  Accession ID  2025.12.5

The image depicts a seated man and woman from the waist up. The man is on the left, sitting upright with one arm around the woman and the other holding an object or piece of paper. He has dark, combed-back hair, a broad face with a small smile, and wears a dark suit with a buttoned jacket and waistcoat, as well as a white dress shirt with a high collar. The woman, seated on the right, leans slightly toward the man, has a serious expression, and wears a white bonnet over darker hair, a dark shawl over her shoulders, and a lighter garment underneath. She holds a fan or similar object. The background is plain and dark, emphasizing the couple in a framed portrait typical of the period, enclosed in a rectangular frame with an oval cut-out. A gold mat surrounds the photograph within a maroon border.
Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root, Portrait of a Man and Woman, c. 1848, daguerreotype, Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2025.12.4

Portrait of a Man and Woman

Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root · c. 1848 · daguerreotype ·  Accession ID  2025.12.4

The image shows a man's upper body, from just below the waist upwards. He is slightly turned to his right, sitting with his left arm resting on a surface. The man has short, wavy dark hair and a prominent facial structure with high cheekbones and a slight smile. He wears a dark, double-breasted coat with large buttons over a dark collar and a visible white shirt underneath. The background is plain and neutral. The photograph is bordered by an ornate frame with gold accents.
Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root, Portrait of a Man, c. 1848, daguerreotype, Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2025.12.3

Portrait of a Man

Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root · c. 1848 · daguerreotype ·  Accession ID  2025.12.3