Portrait of a Tinsmith

1850s

American 19th Century

Associated Names
The image shows an upper-body portrait of a man seated in a three-quarter view. The man is positioned side-on to the camera, with his body turned slightly towards the viewer, while his head remains turned towards the camera. He has a fair complexion, a clean-shaven face with defined cheekbones, and a strong jawline, while his hair is medium length, dark, and slicked back beneath a tall top hat. He wears a light-colored shirt underneath a darker pinstriped apron, with a scarf or cravat tied around his neck. His right hand is holding an object that appears to be garden shears or a similar tool, and his left hand rests on a surface in front of him. Surrounding him on the table are various tools or objects that provide a sense of his working environment. The background is plain and light-colored, focusing attention on the subject. The entire image is framed by an ornate, gold-colored mount within a red border.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    daguerreotype with applied color

  • Credit Line

    The Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection

  • Dimensions

    image (visible): 7.1 × 6 cm (2 13/16 × 2 3/8 in.)
    mat: 8.2 × 7 cm (3 1/4 × 2 3/4 in.)
    case (closed): 9.3 × 8.3 × 1.8 cm (3 11/16 × 3 1/4 × 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2023.146.33


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Ross Kelbaugh, Marriottsville, MD; gift to NGA, 2023.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

by Ross Kelbaugh, top edge of case in black ink on applied sticker: KL02


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