Howard Franklin Damon, Boston (1833-1884) 1858

Editor: This is a portrait of Howard Franklin Damon taken by John Adams Whipple in 1833. It has a somber, almost melancholic mood to it. What symbolic elements do you notice in this photograph? Curator: The oval frame is interesting. It is often employed to represent the Renaissance idea of a "window" on the world. Here, it might suggest not only insight but a restricted view, commenting on mortality. Consider the dark clothing too, and the name inscribed in cursive. Editor: It is almost as if the photo is capturing not just Damon’s likeness but also an idea of 19th-century Bostonian identity. Thanks for your insights! Curator: Indeed! And the lack of color adds to the timelessness of memory. I learned something as well!