A very clear, very good condition quarter-plate size cased tintype showing an armed Union infantryman posed before a painted backdrop in a photographer’s studio. Our man is shown standing, full-length, wearing his regulation infantry frock coat, lighter color issue trousers, and his regulation army dress hat, the famous “Jeff Davis” or “Hardee” hat, with the brim turned up on one side and the infantry bugle insignia on the front. The lighter colored piping on his collar and cuffs is evident. The photographer has subtly tinted his cheeks, added some red and blue to the US flag flying at upper left, and added some gold tinting to his hat insignia, buttons, shoulder and belt plate.

The soldier has brought his rifle and gear into the studio for the occasion, and stands at attention, holding the rifle at his side with the butt on the floor and the bayonet fixed to increase his martial appearance. The rifle appears to be a British import Enfield, used in large numbers by both North and South, and has its sling in place. In an attempt to compensate for the lateral reversal inherent in the tintype process, he has shifted his rifle so as to appear on his right, mounted the bayonet on the muzzle so as to appear correct as well, moved his cartridge box sling to the other shoulder and brought his bayonet scabbard around also, so as to appear on his left side, though fooling around with his cap box appears to have been too much trouble.

The painted backdrop is a great mix of the martial and the bucolic. It incorporates a distant river and mountain view at right, very typical of studio backdrops, but at left shows a military camp with at least two rows of tall A-tents with a tall flagpole and US flag proudly waving, with an artillery crew at lower left who have dragged out their gun in uncomfortably close proximity to their tents for some practice firing across the river. A gunner holds a rammer on the far side of the piece. Other soldiers carry swords. A figure in the background appears at the opening of his tent to watch the fun.

The condition is very good. The mustached subject’s face is clear, the tinting is delicate and the gilding is not offensive. The only defect we see is a scratch to the emulsion in the lower left corner that is not close to the figure or significant elements of the backdrop. The glass, mat, and frame are in place. The case is an ornate thermoplastic or “union” case with raised floral, berry, foliate and geometric designs on both sides and hinge intact. We see a couple of small chips to the case edge, but no cracks major defects. The ornately embossed purple velvet facing pad is in place inside the cover, complete, but showing damage to the bottom edge and right side, but of course not affecting the image, which is in some ways the quintessential Civil War Union infantryman.  [sr][ph:L]

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