Description
Extremely rare quarter plate ambrotype of two Virginian’s photographed in the studio of famed Richmond photographer Charles Rees. Beautifully tinted typical of Rees’s work. Early war image of these two soldiers as they sit side by side as one subject embraces the other. Dressed in grey frocks with the collar trimmed in yellow or gold. Matching grey trousers with a large black stripe running down the trouser seam. The subject seated to the right wears the rank of corporal as evident by the corporal’s chevron’s worn on the sleeve. The man to the left wears his sash over the shoulder and is armed with an earlier militia sword. He lacks any indication of rank and was quite possibly merely serving as officer of the day. Grey caps with a lower band of black rest in each mans lap with the initials “CR” pinned to the front of the cap. Unfortunately there are a number of Virginia companies that were either raised or served in the immediate vicinity of Richmond with those initials which makes pinning down an exact unit difficult. This example is not signed by Rees. A wonderful masterpiece which exemplifies Rees’s unmatched ability as a photographer and artist. This one does comes housed in a full leatherette case with a split spine.
