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Lot Essay
One of the oldest practitioners in the United States, and probably the very oldest in Boston, is Albert Southworth, now, and for several years past of the firm of Southworth & Hawes, Tremont Row...Their style, indeed, is peculiar to themselves; presenting beautiful effects of light and shade, and giving depth and roundness together with a wonderful softness or mellowness. These traits have achieved for them a high reputation with all true artists and connoisseurs.
Their plates have an exquisitely pure, fine, level surface, being resilvered and polished on their "patent swinging plate vice"; and are entirely free from waves, bends and dents,--in short, as nearly perfect, as is perhaps possible... This firm have devoted their time chiefly to daguerreotypes, and have paid but little attention to photography on paper.
I noticed, however, in their Gallery, a photographic copy of Gilbert Stuart's original portrait of Washington, full size, and decidedly the best photographic copy of that celebrated portrait I have ever seen. Saving the color, it is as perfect as one could wish. (Marcus Aurelius Root, 'A Trip to Boston - Boston Artists', The Photographic and Fine Art Journal, August 1855)
Their plates have an exquisitely pure, fine, level surface, being resilvered and polished on their "patent swinging plate vice"; and are entirely free from waves, bends and dents,--in short, as nearly perfect, as is perhaps possible... This firm have devoted their time chiefly to daguerreotypes, and have paid but little attention to photography on paper.
I noticed, however, in their Gallery, a photographic copy of Gilbert Stuart's original portrait of Washington, full size, and decidedly the best photographic copy of that celebrated portrait I have ever seen. Saving the color, it is as perfect as one could wish. (Marcus Aurelius Root, 'A Trip to Boston - Boston Artists', The Photographic and Fine Art Journal, August 1855)