[Portrait of a Jewelry Salesman]

Getty Museum

[Portrait of a Jewelry Salesman]

Creator

Robert H. Vance

American Daguerreotypist · 1825–1876

All works by this person →

Photographer

Born in Maine and having learned the daguerreotype process in Boston, Robert Vance traveled to South America, where he opened several daguerreian galleries in Chile. After selling those establishments, Vance moved to California in late 1850. There he made more than three hundred daguerreotypes during the California gold rush; capitalizing on public interest, he exhibited them to enthusiastic revie

More on Getty ULAN

Date: 1853–1854
Medium: Hand-colored daguerreotype
Culture: American
Department: Photographs
Institution: Getty Museum

As a result of the vast popularity of daguerreotypes in America, they quickly became relatively inexpensive. For the first time in recorded history, working-class people could afford to have their portraits made. They often chose to be shown with the tools of their trade. Sometimes these portraits were early forms of advertising, as suggested by this jewelry vendor, who proudly displays his cased wares and trinkets.

View at Getty Museum ↗

The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.

Get printable QR codes

Open QR codes for this object page and the museum record. They stay collapsed until needed.

Open this page

See at Getty Museum

Related across collections

Semantically similar works from Getty Museum and other institutions.