Lot 5104 email save

George + Martha Washington Opalotype Portraits

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Washington Related

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Rare George & Martha Washington Opalotype Portraits

c. 19th Century, George & Martha Washington Opalotype Portraits, after Paintings by Stuart, Lot of 2, Choice Very Fine.
This is a very rare set of opalotype portraits of George & Martha Washington, hand-tinted on thick frosted-glass, measuring 5" x 3.75" each, with nice, aged tones. The images are quite attractive, with some minor surface scratches. Enclosed along with the portraits are torn remnants of the card backings for each, identifying the Washington portrait as follows: "No. 910 50. PORTRAIT of GEORGE WASHINGTON ESQ. Late President of the United States of America. From an original painting by C.G. STUART." (Similar wording is printed on the cardstock for Martha Washington's portrait.) Created through an early photographic technique invented after 1857, opalotypes were printed on sheets of opaque, translucent white glass. Early opalotypes were hand-tinted with colors to enhance their effect. These rare portraits from the mid-19th century are fine examples of the technique!

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