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S. P. Peck Apothecary

A work made of daguerreotype.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of daguerreotype.

Date:

c. 1850

Artist:

Artist unknown
American, 19th century

About this artwork

Almost immediately after it was introduced in New York in September 1839, the daguerreotype became enormously popular in the United States. The first truly commercial photographic process, it was prized by millions for its precise, jewel-like detail and tonal range. To meet the public’s increasing demand for these affordable portraits, photographers proliferated around the country. Most portraits were made in a studio, but itinerant operators also traveled to make images, such as this portrait of a pharmacist in his place of business, possibly in Bennington, Vermont. Posing behind the counter with the tools of his trade—a mortar and pestle, apothecary jars, and measuring implements—the pharmacist had to remain still during the long exposure time that the process required in low light. Finally, the photographer sealed the photographic plate in a vacuum package to prevent tarnishing before encasing it in leather.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Unknown

Title

S. P. Peck Apothecary

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1845–1860

Medium

Daguerreotype

Dimensions

8.8 × 12.1 cm (3 1/2 × 4 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of the Blum-Kovler Foundation

Reference Number

1970.220

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/33535/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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