Heart-wrenching Post-Mortem Ambrotype

One of the more poignant images we have offered, this sixth-plate ambrotype of a deceased baby ranks among the best examples of the genre. With their mouth frozen in a last gasp, one cannot help feeling deep sympathy for both the child that suffered and their bereaved loved ones. People at or near death are one of the common themes of early 19th century photography, and this particular example would fit in the most advanced collections given its clarity, composition, and mint condition.

[Antique Photograph, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, CDV, Albumen]