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 THE DAGUERREOTYPE: AN ARCHIVE OF SOURCE TEXTS, GRAPHICS, AND EPHEMERA


  The research archive of Gary W. Ewer regarding the history of the daguerreotype

A short preface is in order for today's post. In their book, "L.J.M. Daguerre; the History of the Diorama and the Daguerreotype," Helmut and Alison Gernsheim give the following account of the death of Daguerre: (page 126) "So the years went by pleasantly, Daguerre enjoying full health and strength, when quite suddenly during lunch on Thursday, 10 July 1851, he collapsed. His wife and niece sent for their neighbour and old friend Mentienne, who supported Daguerre in his arms. Mme Daguerre, seeing perspiration break out on his face, said with relief: "Oh, it is nothing serious, my dear husband is going to recover"; but Mentienne, feeling his spasms growing weaker, realized that his life was ending, and in less than an hour Daguerre was dead. A heart attack was the cause." On this day (August 8) in the year 1851, the following notice appeared in the "Springfield Daily Republican" (Mass.) Vol. 8, No. 186 (7 August 1851) pg. 2: - - - - - - - - The operators in the daguerreotype art, in New York, have all agreed to wear crape on the arm for thirty days, in respect to the memory of the founder of their art, who recently died in France. This testimony is a worthy one, but a monument would be a worthier. -------------------------------------------------------------- 08-07-99

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