Portrait of Henry Fitz Jr.

Artist G. H. Morand (French, 1820 - 1870)

Dateca. 1862-1863

MediumAlbumen carte-de-visite

DimensionsImage and sheet: 3 7/16 × 2 1/16 inches (8.73 × 5.24 cm)
Mount: 3 15/16 × 2 3/8 inches (10 × 6.03 cm)

Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust through the George H. and Elizabeth O. Davis Fund

Object number2021.25.30

SignedOn mount verso, center, in black type: "G. H. MORAND. / PHOTOGRAPHER, / 156 Bowery."

Inscribednone

Markingsnone

On View

Not on view

Collections

Photography

Terms

Albumen print

DescriptionImage of a heavily bearded man wearing a suit jacket with vest and tie.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Taken in George H. Morand’s New York studio, this portrait was made just prior to Fitz’s death. At this stage of his career, Fitz was better known in the scientific community for his pioneering advances in telescope production than his early contributions to photography. Though family legend claims he was killed by a falling chandelier, obituaries indicate he died of tuberculosis at the age of 55.

Provenance

Henry Fitz (1808-1863)
Julia Ann Wells Fitz (1814-1892)
George Wells Fitz (1860-1934)
Barbara Fitz Switzer (1904-1991)
Thence by descent to the present owner
Purchased from private collector's sale The Henry Fitz Jr. Archive of Photographic History, Hindman Auctions, Cincinatti, November 15, 2021, lot 301 by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2021.

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