A daguerreotype of William Workman and David W. Alexander, Mathew Brady, New York City, ca. 1851
Entry/Object ID
2022.9.1.1
Description
A daguerreotype of William Workman and David W. Alexander, Mathew Brady, New York City, ca. 1851. The image, on a copper half-plate covered in silver, shows Alexander at the left and Workman on the right seated and the latter wearing a black fingerless glove in mourning for the death of his sister, Lucy, who died in December 1850. The two were like en route to the United Kingdom (Alexander was visting his native Ireland) when they had the photo taken by the photographer who later became famous for his Civil War battlefield images. The photo is in an embossed leather case with a rendering of writer Washington Irving's home, Wolfert's Roost on the front, as well as a red velvet inner lining with Brady's studio name impressed on it. With fading, silvering and other wear to the photo and scratches, soiling and wear to the case, the condition is fair.