In cooperation between the G.Eastman House Museum in Rochester, (New York, USA, and ZoneZero, we have the pleasure to bring up this hand tinted daguerrotype that is in their collection. As was pointed out to me by Anthony Bannon, the Museums' Director, it's very interesting to see the way journalism was described by the head of photography at the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). 

Pedro Meyer

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE:
Fire in the Ames Mills, Oswego, New York

1853
Daguerreotype with applied color
7.0 x 8.3 cm., 1/6 plate
Museum Purchase; ex-collection James Cady
GEH NEG: 5815
79:3107:0002

"On the morning of July 5, 1853, a devastating fire broke out on the east side of the Oswego River. ... Barnard took his camera outside to make at least two views of this terrifying spectacle. The first photograph, taken shortly after the fire was discovered, was made from the head of West Cayuga Street one block east of Barnard's new studio, looking southeast across the river toward the Ames and Doolittle mills. The small plates in the Eastman House collection are reduced copy daguerreotypes made for public sale from Barnard's larger originals. Since they are 'mirror images' of the original, laterally reversed daguerreotypes, these smaller plates read correctly. The daguerreotype of the Ames and Doolittle mills is delicately hand-colored, with crimson pigment added to the flaming buildings." [Keith Davis, --George N. Barnard,-- 1990, p. 28-29]

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES:
Newhall, Beaumont. --The Daguerreotype in America.-- Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1968. pl. 27.//
Rudisill, Richard. --Mirror Image: The Influence of the Daguerreotype on American Society.-- Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1971. pl. 48.//
Sobieszek, Robert A. --Masterpieces of Photography from the George Eastman House Collections.-- New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. p. 49.//
Davis, Keith F. --George N. Barnard, Photographer of Sherman's Campaign.-- Kansas City, MO: Hallmark Cards, Inc., 1990. fig. 6.//
Frizot, Michel. --A New History of Photography.-- Cologne: Könemann, 1998. p. 50.// 

EXHIBITION HISTORY:
"Images of Excellence", US, NY, Rochester, GEH - Brackett Clark Gallery, January 1 - April 26, 1987. (Traveled).//
"Photography in Nineteenth Century America", US, TX, Fort Worth, Amon Carter Museum, October 26, 1991 - January 5, 1992. (Traveled).//
"Reflections in a Glass Eye: Works from the International Center of Photography", US, NY, New York November 3, 2000 - March 18, 2001.//

INSCRIPTION: mat recto-(embossed stamp) "Barnard Oswego" verso-(on backing) "Fire at Ame's Mill, Oswego"

NOTES: Cataloged 11/83, DZ, updated 3/85, RAS.

DESCRIPTIVE TITLE:
Burning Mills, Oswego, New York

July 5, 1853
Daguerreotype with applied color
5.7 x 6.9 cm., 1/6 plate
Museum Purchase; ex-collection James Cady
GEH NEG: 5814
79:3107:0001

"The second view was taken a short time later from a rooftop position two blocks south of his studio near the head of West Oneida Street, looking northeast. This latter view conveys the extent of the destruction along the riverbank from the center of East Oswego north to the harbor. The small plates in the Eastman House collection are reduced copy daguerreotypes made for public sale from Barnard's larger originals. Since they are 'mirror images' of the originals, laterally reversed daguerreotypes, these smaller plates read correctly. The daguerreotype of the Ames and Doolittle mills is delicately hand-colored, with crimson pigment added to the flaming buildings." [Keith Davis, --George N. Barnard,-- 1990, p. 28-29]

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES:
Sobieszek, Robert A. --Masterpieces of Photography from the George Eastman House Collections.-- New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. p. 48.//
Davis, Keith F. --George N. Barnard, Photographer of Sherman's Campaign.-- Kansas City, MO: Hallmark Cards, Inc., 1990. fig. 7.//
Hirsch, Robert. --Seizing the Light: A History of Photography.-- New York: McGraw Hill, 1999. p. 98.// 

EXHIBITION HISTORY:
""Permanent" Survey Exhibition - 19th Century", US, NY, Rochester, GEH - Second Floor Galleries, August 1979 - March 1984.//
"Survey of the History of 19th Century Photography", US, NY, Rochester, GEH - Second Floor Gallery, March 1985 - April 1987.//
"George N. Barnard: Photographer of Sherman's Campaign", US, NY, Rochester, GEH - North & South Galleries, May 17 - June 19, 1991.//
"Eventful Camera", US, NY, Rochester July 24, 1999 - March 12, 2000.//
"Reflections in a Glass Eye: Works from the International Center of Photography", US, NY, New York November 3, 2000 - March 18, 2001.//

INSCRIPTION: mat recto-(embossed stamp) "Barnard Oswego"

NOTES: Cataloged 11/83, DZ, updated 4/91.