Portrait of a Bearded Gentleman

Photograph

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The Recorded Image Project

Name/Title

Portrait of a Bearded Gentleman

Entry/Object ID

RE-PH-2026-0069

Description

Sepia-toned albumen print mounted on cream cabinet card stock with narrow gold rule border. Lower margin printed: “S. J. Swift – 480 Broad Street – Newark, N.J.” Bust-length portrait with soft feathered vignette at lower portion.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Cabinet Card

Category

man, beard, 1870's, Victorian

Made/Created

Studio

S.J. Swift

Date made

1878 - 1888

Time Period

Victorian

Place

State/Province

New Jersey

Notes

Photographer: S. J. Swift 480 Broad Street Newark, New Jersey 🧔 Beard Style Full, natural beard extending below chin Connected mustache No trimming into pointed or stylized form Large natural beards were most fashionable between the 1860s and early 1880s. By the 1890s, mustache-only styles dominate. 👔 Collar Low, rounded collar compared to the towering detachable collars of the 1890s No exaggerated height 🧥 Jacket Simple sack coat Three-button configuration Narrow lapels Minimal shaping This restrained tailoring is typical of the 1875–1885 period. 📐 Mount Style The clean mount with minimal ornamentation and gold rule border aligns with cabinet cards of the late 1870s–early 1880s.

Ethnography

Notes

This gentleman appears middle-aged, likely 35–55 years old. The full beard signals: Respectability Maturity Post–Civil War masculine norms By this time, full beards were associated with: Civic authority Professional status Religious or moral seriousness Given Newark’s rapid industrial growth during this period, he may have been: Merchant Manufacturer Skilled tradesman Clergyman The simplicity of pose suggests formal studio portrait for family or business distribution.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Feb 14, 2026

Notes

Heavy foxing across image field Even sepia fade Minor mount discoloration Structurally stable

General Notes

Note Type

Description

Note

This late nineteenth-century portrait captures a mature gentleman wearing a full natural beard characteristic of post–Civil War masculine fashion. Produced in Newark during a period of rapid industrial expansion, the restrained styling and simple mount reflect the early era of cabinet card photography, when such portraits served as markers of civic identity and respectability.

Create Date

February 14, 2026