Contemporary Daguerreotype, plate size 5x7 inch gilded, hand painted cover glass

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Contemporary Daguerreotype, plate size 5x7 inch gilded, hand painted cover glass:
$349.00

This daguerreotype is a view of an (old) church in the south of Spain, probably build in the 19th century. Time has stand still in this image, I created this daguerreotype in 2017. The plate is signed on the right bottom. The daguerreotype has a very nice warm appearance.The plate is sensitized with Iodine and Bromine and Mercury developed on the spot in Spain. Exposure time was 5 seconds, F5.6. The cover glass is reverse hand painted with the same technique as in the 19th century. The dimensions of the Daguerreotype plate are 5.1x7.1 inch. The dimensions of the cassette are 5.9x7.9 inch. On the back of the cassette you will find the Certificate of Authenticity. It is signed by the artist and the character \"J\" is stamped in sealing-wax. J\'ai saisi la lumière au passage et je l\'ai enchaînée !
(I seized the light, I captured its flight!)These were the famous words spoken in Paris in 1839 by the inventor of the photography: Louis Daguerre. The photography was born. A photograph was made on a layer of pure silver and took 6 to 8 hours to craft. The daguerreotype, as it was named to the inventor, lasted for around 20 years. Due to its very difficult process and hard labor it was taken over by more practical methods invented later on.Nowadays only a couple of true daguerreotypist exist in the world. I am one of them. I started in 2006 after years of practicing as professional, full time daguerreotypist.Every daguerreotype is a unique piece. It is completely made by hand. No machinery is involved.
A 99,9% pure silver layer is polished by hand for several hours. Sensitized, exposed and developed. After the development it is covered with a 24 Krt gold layer to protect and gives it a warmer tint. It is sealed in a frame protected by a hand painted cover glass (silver turns black if it is exposed to air). Underneath the cover glass the Daguerreotype is separated by a paper Matt. This Daguerreotype is fully sealed in a cassette. The cassette is fully prepared according the International Conservation Standards. This is an absolute unique piece of art. No two daguerreotypes will ever be the same because they are exposed one at the time inside a camera.A daguerreotype produces a magic view. It shines like a mirror. Depending on what it reflects, for e.g. if you are standing in front of it with a white shirt, is produces a negative image (like the filmstrip you have with non digital camera\'s). If the reflection is darker you see an image like a photograph. Sometimes it is like a hologram.Because a daguerreotype is completely made by hand, small artifacts like small spots can be present. Also, due to hand polishing the silver surface small lines (grooves) are part of the process.We will carefully ship this daguerreotype (registered mail including insurance).

About the Artists:

After 22 year being a professionalphoto journalist, Marinus Ortelee decided to make a drastic careerswitch. He started as a professional Daguerrotypist in 2006. He is frequently askedin Europe for performing Portrait days, demonstration, lecturing andexpertise. His work has been exhibited in Paris, Washington, NewYork, Brussels, and Berlin. Frequently articles about his workappear in European magazines and newspapers. Marinus owns his own day light studio in The Netherlands.