Portrait of a Man

c. 1848

Marcus Aurelius Root, Samuel Root

Associated Names
Marcus Aurelius Root

Artist, American, 1808 - 1888

Samuel Root

Artist, American, 1819 - 1889

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.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    daguerreotype

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon

  • Dimensions

    image (visible): 7.1 × 5.9 cm (2 13/16 × 2 5/16 in.)
    mat: 8.2 × 6.8 cm (3 1/4 × 2 11/16 in.)
    case (closed): 9.2 × 8.2 × 1.6 cm (3 5/8 × 3 1/4 × 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2025.12.5


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Janet Lehr, East Hampton, NY; Mary and Dan Solomon, Dana Point, CA; gift to NGA, 2025.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on velvet lining inside of case, lower center stamped: ROOT / 140 / CHESTNUT / ST. / PHILADA.


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