Snapshots of the Past

[James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform] – Antique Photo Print

[James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform], [between 1844 and 1849] — historic photograph
[James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform], [between 1844 and 1849]. Historic photograph from the Daguerreotypes & Early Photography collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This historic photograph of [James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform] brings a moment of history to your wall. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

Framed, it is ready for the wall; unframed, it is ready for the frame you choose. A conversation-starting piece for home, office, or as a meaningful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Since 2001, Snapshots of the Past has shipped historic prints to tens of thousands of customers around the world.

[James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform]

Order a print

Secure checkout · SSL encryptedPowered by Stripe and PayPal

Free shipping in the lower 48 states. The checkout page shows the picture, size and price before you pay.

Sign up for our newsletter

Sent securely. No purchase needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ask about licensing or this print

Shown turned three-quarters to the right in a military uniform, this half-plate daguerreotype is a rare chance to see a mid-century officer's face in direct, sharp detail. The plate was made in Mathew Brady's studio between 1844 and 1849, and its gold toning gives the silvery image a warmer, more durable surface. The sitter is listed as James Duncan (1810–1849), though the record also notes a possible identity as Col. Joseph Duncan of Illinois. The name was traced through an engraving of the portrait published in the *Democratic Review* in March 1852, and handwritten labels on the back of the plate add to that record.

Created / published[between 1844 and 1849]
Medium1 photograph : half plate daguerreotype, gold toned.
GenrePortrait photographs 1840-1850.Daguerreotypes 1840-1850.
NotesAlternative identification: Col. Joseph Duncan, Illinois. Scratched on back of plate: 328; Col. Duncan. Written in pencil on back of plate: Col. James Duncan. Hallmark: 40. Identification from an engraving by J. Ourdan in Democratic Review, March 1852, p. 183. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Produced by Mathew Brady's studio.
SubjectsDuncan, James,--1810-1849. Military personnel--1840-1850.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan3,279 × 4,096 px · prints to 11 × 14 in at 300 dpi
Reference220_James_Duncan_threequart_1844

More from the Daguerreotypes & Early Photography collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.

Related pictures

[John Ellis Wool, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform, hand in coat][John Ellis Wool, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right, in military[Colonel William Gates, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform][Colonel William Gates, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the right[James Knox Polk, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right, seated][James Knox Polk, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right, se[James Bruce Elgin, 8th Earl of Elgin, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to right][James Bruce Elgin, 8th Earl of Elgin, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarte[John M. Washington, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left, in military uniform][John M. Washington, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left, in[James Buchanan, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right][James Buchanan, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right]