Lot 23: ALBERT SANDS SOUTHWORTH (1811-1894) and JOSIAH JOHNSON HAWES (1808-1901)

ALBERT SANDS SOUTHWORTH (1811-1894) and JOSIAH JOHNSON HAWES (1808-1901)
George Washington, after Gilbert Stuart, 1853
half-plate daguerreotype
5½ x 4¼in. (14 x 10.8cm.)

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)