Many daguerreotype portraits captured sitters who proudly
conveyed their chosen occupation, including religious vocations. The nun here
wears the habit of the “Sisters of Charity”—a white sash around the shoulders
and a starched cornette on the head. The nun’s rosary is draped over her arm
and the man beside her holds its crucifix. Though he is not dressed in
religious attire, this intimate pose suggests a familial relationship and a
shared religious devotion.