Some help with a photo, please?

[Bruce Vail]

Your portrait of your ancester Ward is called a "crayon portrait" or more specifically a"charcoal portrait". These portraits were enlargements of original cdvs, tintypes, dags, ambros, cabinet cards, or albumens which were then colored in using charcoal or colored crayons (pastels) by skilled artists employed by the photography houses which had enlarged the original photo. Enlargement of photos began as a commercial product to the public in the 1880s. Soldier Ward appears to be in typical Civil War garb. My guess is the original photo was a war cdv, enlarged in the late 1800's and colored in charcoal. Typically in a charcoal portrait, the coloring artist provided an extremely detailed and very striking face or portrait while the rest of the photograph was deliberately softened and often heavily stylized as these non-face areas were considered non-essential to the overall effect the enlargement always tried to achieve. In other words, it was always about "the face".

Many thanks for these comments.

I'm thinking there must have been a colorized version of this image at one time. Aside from the absence of wrinkles, blemishes or scars on the face, it looks to me like the eyes were enhanced to add a specific color. When the original genealogy book was published in 1945, it was b&w only, so a colorized portrait would have had to been converted to b&w then.

 

[Old Soldier]

Are you saying the image should be reversed?

The problem with tintype is that it is a mirror image and the jacket fastening is the first and most like indicator. Many photographers using tintype erased reversed writing on caps, buttons and buckles as well as posing their subjects with the rifles or swords in their LEFT hand (except the lock is on the wrong side of the rifle!) and swapping over their cross straps so it looked 'real'. Here is one from an earlier thread:

Everything LOOKS OK, but the rifle's lock is on the wrong side of the rifle and, although he has changed hands, his cartridge pouch and the cap pouch has remained on his right side. Note the buttons, buckles and badges too. Yes we can flip it in Photoshop, but it will not make it look more realistic - he ISN'T left-handed!

Tintype was the quick and cheaper variety of photo - a small, direct positive, but mirrored, image onto coated polished silver - and the one most likely to be damaged by environment.

 

[Bruce Vail]

Unfortunately the uniform is not going to tell us much, due to the liberty taken by the artist. The face was the most important aspect of these charcoal enlargements and garnered the most detail. I suspect that this is a prewar militia 2nd or 3rd Lt, as NC used the standard US Army standard for state militia officers IIRC. The forage cap would indicate that the original picture was taken just prior to the war or early wartime.

What a great picture and family treasure!

Wow! It's great to have someone with your expertise chiming in. Thanks so much.

Is there a uniforms enthusiasts' magazine, or website, I could consult? I'm thinking about maybe buying an advertisement in search of other older versions, or further info.

I'm also wondering whether it would be common for a crayon portrait to be produced many years after the original tintype was made? Perhaps even at the time of death of the subject, as a personal memorial or keepsake?

 

[Package4]

Wow! It's great to have someone with your expertise chiming in. Thanks so much.

Is there a uniforms enthusiasts' magazine, or website, I could consult? I'm thinking about maybe buying an advertisement in search of other older versions, or further info.

I'm also wondering whether it would be common for a crayon portrait to be produced many years after the original tintype was made? Perhaps even at the time of death of the subject, as a personal memorial or keepsake?

I would try both North South Trader Civil War Magazine & Military Images Magazine https://militaryimagesmagazine.com/. https://nstcw.com/