Elizabeth Page Bakewell and her Grandson, Frank B. James 1845 - 1848

This daguerreotype, created by John Plumbe Jr. between 1845 and 1848, depicts Elizabeth Page Bakewell and her grandson, Frank B. James. Plumbe Jr., a pioneer of American photography, captured the pair in a formal pose, showcasing the evolving art of portraiture in the 19th century. The daguerreotype, a direct positive image on a silver-plated copper sheet, is a testament to the early technical advancements in photography and provides a glimpse into the lives of a family in the mid-19th century. Now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the daguerreotype offers a rare and intimate portrait of a family from a bygone era.