Elizabeth Barrett Browning On Dageurrotypes

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s word on the Daguerreotype was quite interesting to me.  I love to hear of first hand accounts of moments in history.  She spoke so highly of this new invention and how she could have in image of someone forever.  The idea of having this photograph of a loved one rather than a painting made by the “noblest Artist” is quite radical in this time.  Paintings were highly regarded, but Browning doesn’t care.  She wants a daguerreotype and could care less about paintings.  A painting could show someone’s likeness, but Browning states that “the very shadow of a person” in a daguerreotype gives it a sense of realism and how this new invention will overtake the portrait world.  If I were living in the early daguerreotype world, I too, would think it would take over portraits.  Although a sitter must be still for up to 10 minutes, it is much easier and faster to take a daguerreotype than have an oil painting done.  Overall, Browning’s short account on daguerreotypes was fascinating and her interest in this new invention shows in her writings.