Carte de visite of an aged African American gentleman seated in a studio setting, with several sticks propped against the shelf beside him, pencil identified on mount verso as, Jim Mitchell family servant of the Washington family/ 83 years old/ April 15th, 1870/ lived at Mt. Vernon since 14 years age. With Alexander Gardner's Washington, DC backmark. At the time of his death, George Washington owned 317 slaves, five named James. One slave, entered as James (c), supposedly came to Mt. Vernon in 1799. Considering that he would have been approximately 12-years-old when he arrived at the plantation, James (c) may be the same man sitting in the portrait offered here. Washington famously requested to emancipate all of his slaves after the death of his wife. However, James continued to live and serve the Washington family for some time. Alexander Gardner became the first "official" photographer for Mt. Vernon in late 1866 or early 1867. He photographed several of the rooms in Mt. Vernon and also produced some CDVs. He was the estate's official photographer until 1878, making the supposed date of the photograph within Gardner's tenure. However, no further records have been found regarding the subject of this particular portrait, Jim Mitchell. Condition: Light, even toning to CDV. Fine image overall.
Carte de visite of an aged African American gentleman seated in a studio setting, with several sticks propped against the shelf beside him, pencil identified on mount verso as, Jim Mitchell family servant of the Washington family/ 83 years old/ April 15th, 1870/ lived at Mt. Vernon since 14 years age. With Alexander Gardner's Washington, DC backmark. At the time of his death, George Washington owned 317 slaves, five named James. One slave, entered as James (c), supposedly came to Mt. Vernon in 1799. Considering that he would have been approximately 12-years-old when he arrived at the plantation, James (c) may be the same man sitting in the portrait offered here. Washington famously requested to emancipate all of his slaves after the death of his wife. However, James continued to live and serve the Washington family for some time. Alexander Gardner became the first "official" photographer for Mt. Vernon in late 1866 or early 1867. He photographed several of the rooms in Mt. Vernon and also produced some CDVs. He was the estate's official photographer until 1878, making the supposed date of the photograph within Gardner's tenure. However, no further records have been found regarding the subject of this particular portrait, Jim Mitchell. Condition: Light, even toning to CDV. Fine image overall.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
