Wilson Chinn, a Branded Slave from Louisiana

Artist Myron H. Kimball (American, born 1825)

Date1863

MediumAlbumen carte-de-visite

DimensionsImage and sheet: 3 1/2 × 2 1/16 inches (8.89 × 5.24 cm)
Mount: 4 1/4 × 2 3/8 inches (10.8 × 6.03 cm)

Credit LineGift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Object number2005.27.256

SignedArtist's attribution on mount recto, bottom, in black type: "Photographed by KIMBALL, 477 Broadway, N.Y."

InscribedInscribed on mount recto, bottom, in black ink: "WILSON CHINN, A Branded Slave from / Louisiana."

MarkingsOn mount recto, bottom, in black type: "Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1863, by / GEO. H. HANKS, in the Clerk's office of the United States / for the Southern District of New York."; On mount verso, center, in black type: "The nett [sic] proceeds from the sale of these Photo- / graphs will be devoted to the education of / Colored People in the Department of the Gulf, now / under the command of Maj. Gen. Banks.".

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DescriptionImage of a man with a branded forehead standing with an iron pronged collar around his neck and chains around his ankles. He is wearing long pants and a buttoned jacket.Published References

Published References

Maria Morris Hambourg, The Waking Dream: Photography's First Century (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1993): 317; Kathleen Collins, "Portrait of Slave Children," History of Photography 9:3 (July-September 1985): 187-210. C. C. Leigh, "White and Colored Slaves," Harper's Weekly (January 30, 1864): 71. "An Instrument of Torture Used by Slaveholders," Harper's Weekly (February 15, 1862): 108.

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