[Family of Eight, Dijon, France]

CultureFrench
Titles
  • [Family of Eight, Dijon, France]
Date1859
PlaceDijon, France
MediumAmbrotype
DimensionsImage: 3 7/16 × 4 3/4 in. (8.8 × 12 cm)
Other (Border): 5 11/16 × 7 1/16 in. (14.5 × 18 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment, The Manfred Heiting Collection
Object number2004.758
Non exposé

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

Introduced in the 1850s as an affordable alternative to the daguerreotype, an ambrotype is essentially a glass-plate negative that appears as a positive image when laid against a black backing. This small example, with three generations of a family packed into its frame, would have been made at a relatively small cost, but nonetheless treasured by those depicted. Unlike paper prints, which were more easily signed, inscribed, or stamped, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes have often lost their history of authorship and ownership as they have passed from family attics to flea markets to the art market.


Provenance Research Ongoing Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
date, place, in black ink, on remaines of original white paper label, affixed to verso of case

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

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Ambrotype in leather case
2003.542
Untitled
Littlefield, Parsons & Co.
c. 1865
Ambrotype with applied color in thermoplastic case
2003.552
[Man Wearing Hat and Bow Tie]
c. 1865
Ambrotype in leather case
2003.530
[Man with Gun]
1865
Ambrotype in leather case
90.492
Raymond-Jean-Baptiste de Verninac Saint-Maur
1855-1858
Ambrotype with applied color
2024.1001