Union officer and family photographed in 1865 Nashville, Tennessee
Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Lovely family portrait featuring a Union artillery officer standing behind his pretty seated wife with his hands resting on her shoulders, while she holds a small child on her lap. Two older children flank their parents, a pretty young girl wearing a patterned dress is standing at the left, and a young boy wearing a cap and a military style jacket stands at the right. The officer sports a goatee beard while wearing a kepi with brass artillery hat insignia clearly visible. His frock coat has shoulders straps on it that appear to indicate that this officer holds the rank of colonel. Backmark: T.M. Schleier, Photographer, Cor. Union and Cherry Sts., and 27 Public Square, Nashville, Tennessee. There is an advertisement below his studio information; "Photographs of all size, in india ink, oil or water colors. Daguerreotypes and other pictures copied to any size. Landscapes, views, camps, &c. taken at short notice." There is a beautiful war date ink inscription on the reverse: "For Sister Maggie with the love of the Happy Family, Knoxville, Tenn., March 30th, 1865." Light age toning and wear with some corner damage, and spotting near the bottom of the view. Very nice war date content taken in Tennessee of this Union artillery officer and his handsome family. Desirable pose. |