Lot 27 email save

Waiting for death, moving pre-mortem daguerreotype

A direct portrait of a pale woman reclining on a bed. She looks directly at the camera with her arms across her waist. The new art of the daguerreotype allowed the image of the lately departed or soon-to-be departed loved one to be preserved. The so-called "pre-mortem" is sometimes the most poignant, because the subject, understanding why the camera would be set up at her bedside, must calmly contribute to the image of her own soon-fading existence.

This 1/6 plate daguerreotype is still sealed with original seals to an oval mat. There is moist haze on the underside of the glass that has clouded the scan. In a full case with original spine intact. [3+]

[3+]See explanation of codes below

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