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Portrait of a Young Boy
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Baron Humbert de Molard, a wealthy amateur, began taking daguerreotypes of his friends, family, and servants in 1843. The following year he became one of the earliest Frenchmen to experiment with paper print processes. This salted paper print was made from a glass-plate negative sensitized with albumen. The stiff pose, placement of the subject’s hands, and glaring gaze are likely due to the long exposure time required by those materials. They imbue a young boy with the gravity and formality of a much older man.
| Artist / Maker | Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1848 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 19th century |
| Medium | salted paper print from albumen on glass negative |
| Dimensions | Image: 23.2 x 17.1 cm (9 1/8 x 6 3/4 in.); Paper: 23.6 x 17.7 cm (9 5/16 x 6 15/16 in.); Matted: 50.8 x 40.6 cm (20 x 16 in.) |
| Department | Photography |
| Type | Photograph |
About the Artist
Louis-Adolphe Humbert de Molard (French, 1800–1874) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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