Sunday, January 16, 2022

Our most fine and elegant first lady - portraits of Mary Todd Lincoln taken from glass plate negatives by Matthew Brady, 1861-64

 
Mrs. Lincoln's distinctive seed pearl jewelry - necklace, earrings, brooch, two matching bracelets - seen in most of these portraits, was purchased from Tiffany's.

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These official portraits of Mrs. Lincoln - along with additional poses - were reproduced as cartes de visites. 

This and the following eight examples are shown much enlarged from the standard carte size of 2.5x4 inches.
Often captioned as being taken during her widowhood, this portrait and the following were actually taken circa 1862-63 and 1864, respectively.
Two cartes de visite shown actual size.

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousNovember 3, 2022 at 11:23 AM

    The travesty that was her life, plagued by mental illness and shown the least of empathy or compassion.
    The death of three sons, the death of the president, her own surviving son betraying her, and her own half-brothers killed in the civil war on the side of the confederacy. One of the TRUE first ladies of these United States.
    -Rj in the IE

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