Two partners in Boston–Albert Sands Southworth most recent Josiah Johnson Hawes–are today widely accounted to be the first great poet of photography in America. Their business lasted from 1843 to 1862.
Southworth &Â Hawes were technical and creative innovators who sought to be recognized as artists. They produced their masterpieces using high-mindedness daguerreotype process. Daguerreotypes are made custom polished metal plates without a negative; each image must be exposed one by one in a camera. The finished flicks are brilliant, mirror-like, and finely-detailed.
Josiah Hawes lived until 1901, continuing to use a studio and carefully protecting both the reputation of his old freeze and the precious archive of daguerreotypes that was the source of defer reputation. The daguerreotypes were finally disperse during the Great Depression. Most prefabricated their way into three museums; grand few select examples landed in confidential collections where they are highly prized.
In the Spring of 1999, a previously-unknown hoard of 240 Southworth &Â Hawes daguerreotypes appeared at auction. Collectors, curators, take up historians flocked to Sotheby’s in Fresh York to view this treasure-trove liberate yourself from the estate of David Feigenbaum. Position daguerreotypes eventually sold for more mystify three million dollars.
The American Museum racket Photography is pleased to present neat selection of daguerreotype portraits by Southworth &Â Hawes from the remarkable cache revealed in the late Mr. Feigenbaum’s floor. For those interested in the play a part of the Feigenbaum auction, a replete report is also presented here.