• Title
  William Lawson ambrotype portrait, ca. 1855-1860, a copy of an original daguerreotype ca. 1846
• Call number
  MIN 503
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. 1855-1860
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Photographs
• Reference code
  1037277
• Physical Description
  1 photograph - 1/9th plate ambrotype inside frame - visible image 5.6 x 4.5 cm, inside frame 19.8 x 18.4 cm
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Lt. William Lawson died in 1850, before the invention of the ambrotype in 1854. This then is a later copy of an earlier process, the daguerreotype. This is confirmed by the quality of the definition of the ambrotype and the correct orientation of the sitter’s coat buttons (all daguerreotypes are laterally inverted, so the buttons would be back-to-front).
  
  Reference:
  Curator of Photographs, Alan Davies, May 2013
• Scope and Content
  This ambrotype copy of the daguerreotype portrait shows Lawson in three quarter length, seated in a studio with a painted backdrop of a window and curtain, with a rosette on the left. Lawson rests his arm on a table on the right. The image is not in focus and there are scratch marks from top to bottom along the right side. The frame is original however has been painted gold and is missing several pieces.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright: Created before 1955
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• General note
  
  A 1/6th plate daguerreotype with the same backdrop is held at ML Ref: MIN 252. It shows the rosette laterally inverted, as typical of an original daguerreotype.
  In 1906, a retouched photographic copy was produced of this ambrotype. It was lent for copying by Mrs Nelson P Whitelock, grand daughter of Lieutenant William Lawson. It is held at ML Ref: P2/Lawson, William.
  In January 1988, the Icely sisters (great great granddaughters of William Lawson) presented a carte-de-visite portrait of Lawson ca. 1865, held at ML Ref: PXB 301/10. This seems to have been taken from the original daguerreotype, as it is reversed (with the rosette to the right). It also shows more facial detail than the ambrotype copy and has no scratches.
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Manuscript label on frame backing incorrectly identifies photograph as a daguerreotype: 'Original Daguerreotype photograph of Lieutenant William Lawson. William Lawson son of John and Hannah Lawson. Born 2nd June and Christened 26 June 1774 at Finchly County of Middlesex England. Arrived in New South Wales in the year 1800. Died at his residence, Veteran Hall, Prospect, New South Wales 1/4 past 12 A.M. of June 16th 1850. Lent by Mrs E.V. Ingle 285 Clovelly Rd Clovelly. 15 Glunkett St St Leonards'
• Attributions / conjectures
  
  This image is remarkably similar in pose to the 1845 William Bland daguerreotype at ML Ref: MIN 350. The original is likely to be a George Goodman daguerreotype, taken after he introduced painted studio backgrounds such as a sitting room and library in 1846. Attributed by the Curator of Photographs, State Library New South Wales, 2013
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Goodman, George Baron, d. 1851
  
• Name
  Lawson, William, 1774-1850
  
• Subject
  Portraits, Australian--New South Wales.
  Portrait photography--New South Wales--19th century.
  Adult Males
  
• Topic
  ambrotypes
  photographic studios
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE21124309

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