Description:
Three-quarter length photographic portrait (daguerreotype) of an unidentified, seated man, by J. D. Wells of Northampton, Massachusetts. Jeremiah D. Wells, who opened a photograph and picture gallery in 1846, is considered the first permanent, non-itinerant daguerreotypist in Northampton. The inside surround of this image is stamped "J.D. Wells" and "Northampton," and was probably made before Well's 1854 partnership with Isaac Newton Kneeland. The sitter's dress and hairstyle further narrow the date of the image to the early 1850s. By the early 1860s Wells' shop was located on #6 Merchant's Row. By this time, in addition to his skills as a "daguerrean artist," Wells also supplied gold lockets and photographic cases." An advertisement in local Northampton newspaper for the gallery in 1850 (find it); In 1852 he opened additional rooms at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania., with Q.P. Knight in charge. In 1853 he opened another branch in Brattleboro, Vermont, in partnership with Lovell (J.). In 1856, in Northampton, he was listed in partnership as Wells and Kneeland. The partnership was also listed in 1860. Stamped on the brass mat of a quarter-plate daguerreotype, "J.D. Wells, Northampton.". He was listed in Northampton until approximately 1870." This is an early example of a locally-made photographic portrait in Historic Deerfield's collection. Historic Northampton has a trade card for J. D. Wells in their collection, and it stated that "all the Pictures known in the Art taken in the best styles." The card says that Wells had twenty two years experience.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2012.24 |
