Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896 [Portrait of Major Sidell]

GLC05111.01.0054

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GLC#
GLC05111.01.0054-View header record
Type
Images
Date
circa 1861-1865
Author/Creator
Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896
Title
[Portrait of Major Sidell]
Place Written
Washington, District of Columbia
Pagination
1 salt print Height: 21 cm, Width: 25.4 cm
Primary time period
Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
Sub-Era
The American Civil War

A salt print of a photographic portrait of a man identified as Maj. Sidell. Heavily touched-up by Brady studio artists. Posibly an original painting and not a photograph. Research brings up a William Henry Sidell, born 1810 in New York, NY. Sidell graduated from West Point in 1833, and was comissioned Major and put in charge of the 15th Infantry Regiment upon the start of the Civil War in 1861. Promoted to Liutenant Colonel at some point, then full bird in 1863. As shoulder straps of Maj. and Lt. Col. are the same except for coloration, photograph can be placed between 1861 and 1863. Sidell was brevetted to Brigadier General in 1865 just before the war's end, and lived until 1873. Buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. Written in graphite on recto: "1 Negative" and on verso: "Major Sidell, U.S.A." and "a Salt print touched up in Brady's gallery for reproduction [illegible signature]." Brady's studio was in Washington, D.C. and was presumably taken there.

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