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The image depicts two seated men from head to feet. On the left, a man holds two instruments and seems to be in mid-action, while the man on the right holds a tambourine in a playing posture. Both men have short, dark hair, wear hats, and have discernible facial features with a calm expression. The man on the left wears a light-colored suit with a vest and shirt underneath, while the man on the right wears a dark jacket with a shirt, both with long pants and shoes. The background shows patterns on the floor and a simple wall.
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The image depicts two seated men from head to feet. On the left, a man holds two instruments and seems to be in mid-action, while the man on the right holds a tambourine in a playing posture. Both men have short, dark hair, wear hats, and have discernible facial features with a calm expression. The man on the left wears a light-colored suit with a vest and shirt underneath, while the man on the right wears a dark jacket with a shirt, both with long pants and shoes. The background shows patterns on the floor and a simple wall.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

"Bell Boys at the Barrett House, Burlington, Iowa"

American 19th Century

Date
c. 1863
Medium
albumen silver print (carte-de-visite)
Dimensions
image/sheet: 9.4 × 5.5 cm (3 11/16 × 2 3/16 in.) mount: 10.1 × 6.1 cm (4 × 2 3/8 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2023.39.53
Credit line
Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, Purchased with support from the Ford Foundation
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CPH
Original NGA record

Subjects and terms

  • portrait
  • American
  • albumen silver print
  • African American
  • Men
  • CDV
Provenance

Ross Kelbaugh, Marriottsville, MD; NGA purchase, 2023.

Inscription

on verso, by Ross Kelbaugh, top left in graphite: 20LH / AF030; by unknown hand, center in black ink: Bell Boys at the / Barret House / Burlington / Iowa

NGA object ID 227071. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.