Family Group.

[Robert Gray]

There are two existing prints of this charming family group: One in the Library of Congress and the other in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Neither is identified. Although Civil War photography has been much studied, there are still important photographs about which little is known. This formal portrait of a well-to-do family with a military guard and a black servant is a good example. The architecture suggests the elegant homes of Alexandria, Virginia, and the Georgetown district of Washington, D.C. But what occasioned this solemn image remains a mystery.

In an era dominated by routine albumen silver prints, this exceptionally large salted paper print suggests the work of one of the better New York or Washington studios. A likely photographer is Alexander Gardner, whose portrait work for Mathew Brady was often executed in salted paper prints rivaling those made by the best European photographers. Perhaps the inscription, "No 5," at the bottom center of one of the prints will ultimately help solve the mystery of this haunting photograph.

[Family Group], Unknown, Salted paper print from glass negative
Public Domain

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gilman Collection, Purchase, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Gift, 2005

Library of Congress
LC-DIG-ppmsca-33404

 

[Lampasas Bill]

I agree it's a family group, but I believe that's not a "military guard." He has no weapons or accoutrements. To me it looks like they're all members of the same family, except, of course, for the young black man. Father is sitting at the left in his uniform, while his oldest son is standing on the right in his. Who knows what brought them all together for this image, but it certainly is charming.