Dr. J. S. L. Hitchcock,

1840

The invention of the daguerreotype in 1839 created an insatiable demand for portraiture. Unlike painting’s prolonged process and high cost, a daguerreotype could be produced efficiently and for a more accessible price, thereby helping to democratize the portrait. This daguerreotype portrait of Dr. J. S. L. Hitchcock is typical in its presentation, subject, size, and function. Due to their delicate mirrored surfaces and small size, such prints were commonly protected by a glass sheet and packaged in a velvet-lined leather case. The case allowed the viewer to safely maneuver the mirrorlike print to bring clarity to the captured image.