CINCINNATI, OH. Daguerreotypes are coming to the Taft Museum of Art this spring.
Photographic Wonders: American Daguerreotypes from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, on display May 17–Aug. 25, features 82 astonishing images of life in 19th-century America. The exhibition includes rare images of such well-known Americans as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, and Tom Thumb.
Local Exposures: Cincinnati Daguerreotypes, on display April 19–July 21, features ten daguerreotypes with local connections, including telling portraits of distinguished sitters such as actor Edwin Forrest and ornithologist, naturalist, and painter James Audubon.
In 1839 the American public encountered the exciting new invention of photography in its earliest form, the daguerreotype. Together, these two Taft exhibitions present an in-depth look at the art of early photography, as well as candid, touching, and sometimes humorous image of life in mid-19th century America and Cincinnati.
A daguerreotype is a unique image crafted on a silvered copper plate, a surface that acts like a mirror. While sometimes hard to view, this exhibition presents the works under perfect lighting conditions. The earliest daguerreotypes required exposures of up to thirty minutes. Within a few years, however, portraits could be made in about ten to twenty seconds.
Among the exceptional daguerreotypes in Photographic Wonders are post-mortem images (portraits taken after death) that tell sorrowful stories, while The Comic Dentist and other humorous subjects still amuse today's audiences. Portraits of individuals with the hallmarks of their trade (called occupationals), including a blacksmith with his tools, a woman ironing, and a clown in costume, show Americans' pride in their work. Outdoor scenes reveal quaint towns and growing cities, while landscapes feature popular tourist destinations. The wide range of subjects offers something for every interest.
The exhibited works in Photographic Wonders are part of an acclaimed collection that Hallmark Cards, Inc., donated in 2005 to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The choice examples selected for the Taft date from about 1840 to about 1860, while Nicholas Longworth and his family lived in the historic house that is now the Taft Museum of Art.
Local Exposures, a captivating “snapshot” of life in Cincinnati in the 1800s, will delight Cincinnati history enthusiasts. A rarely exhibited Cincinnati streetscape reveals what the city looked like in 1848, while business cards and advertisements for daguerreotype studios show the prominence of the industry in Cincinnati.
“These were the first photographs. Prior to this the only way you could preserve your image was through a painting or sketch. Imagine seeing yourself in a photograph for the first time--it would seem like magic, and that's exactly the first reaction people had," says installing curator, Tamera Muente.
Taft Museum of Art Director/CEO, Deborah Emont Scott, says, “It’s an amazing experience to view these precious, one-of-a-kind photographs. The images are small and the viewing experience is an intimate one – you step back in time and share a rare mid-19th-century moment with the sitter.”
Sponsors: Warrington Exhibition Endowment, The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees, Chellgren Family Endowment Fund, Docents of the Taft Museum of Art, The Frank J. Kloenne and Jacqueline D. Kloenne Foundation, The John W. Hauck Foundation, FOTOFOCUS
Exhibition support generously provided by: Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment
ArtsWave Partner: GE Aviation
Operation Support: ArtsWave, Ohio Arts Council
This exhibition has been organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
CALENDAR LISTINGS
The Daguerreotype Known ‘Round the World: The Cincinnati Panorama of 1848
Thursday, June 6, 7 p.m.
Patricia Van Skaik tells the tale of the Panorama, Cincinnati’s internationally renowned daguerreotype, which is on display at the Public Library of Cincinnati. Skaik oversaw the conservation of the Panorama, which was shown in the Great Exhibition of 1851 at London’s Crystal Palace. It is the oldest surviving photograph of an American city and one of the finest examples of daguerreian photography. Skaik is Manager of the Genealogy and Local History Department, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
FREE Members and Students. $10 Public (includes exhibition admission)
Reservations: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org
Sponsor: Stanely and Frances D. Cohen Lecture Series
Wonder of Wonders: The Art of the American Daguerreotype
Wednesday, June 26, 7 p.m.
Jane Aspinwall, Associate Curator of Photography, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, discusses the aesthetics of this earliest form of photography, revealing surprising variety of subjects recorded. Aspinwall has worked with the Hallmark Photographic Collection at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art since 1999. The exhibition Photographic Wonders will be open 4-7 p.m.
FREE members and Students. $10 Public (includes exhibition admission)
Reservations: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org
Sponsor: Stanley and Frances D. Cohen Lecture Series
“Let Nobody Turn Us Around”: African-American Images and History in the 19th Century
Sunday, July 14, 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Eric R. Jackson, Director, Black Studies Program, Northern Kentucky University, leads guests through the special exhibition discussing images of African Americans as presented in the show and in other 19th-century visual and literary works. Jackson, an associate professor at Northern Kentucky University, is an editor of the Journal of Pan African Studies.
FREE
Reservations recommended: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org
FREE Third Sunday Funday
Say Cheese!
Sunday, July 21, 1-4 p.m.
Bring the whole family to the Taft to experience a free afternoon of great art, kid-sized art info, hands-on fun, and family friendly performances. Use our kid-friendly Family Guide of the exhibition to put yourself in the picture with a hands-on activity, and experiment with a camera obscura at the Art Cart. At 2:30, ArtReach performs Cincinnati: A City of Immigrants. Perfect for ages 10 and up.
FREE. No reservations taken
Information (513) 684-4515
Sponsor: The Charles H. Dater Foundation
ArtsWave Partner: Enquirer Media
ArtReach is a division of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
Through the Photographer’s Lens
Friday, August 2, 2-3:30 p.m.
Photographer Matthew Allbritton will disuss his inspirations and explain historical technical processes. His own work is inspired by his travels. He holds a master of fine art in photography from the University of Texas at Austin. Following the talk, Albritton will share his insights about the exhibition.
FREE with museum admission
Reservations required: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org
GALLERY TALKS
Thursday, June 20, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, August 16, 1:30 p.m.
Assistant Curator Tamera Muente shares her
insights about the exhibition.
Friday, July 26, 1:30 p.m.
Curator of Education Nancy Huth leads a gallery
talk focusing on 19th-century fashion.
FREE with Museum admission
Reservations required: (513) 684-4515 or
www.taftmuseum.org
ArtsWave Partner: Duke Energy Corporation
SATURDAY EXHIBITION TOURS
Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.
Join a Taft docent for a half-hour look at this
exhibition.
FREE with Museum admission. No reservations taken
Media Contact:
Natalie Mathis
nmathis@taftmuseum.org
513.241.0343
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