National Gallery of Art · Photograph
Adeline Purnell
American 19th Century
- Date
- c. 1880
- Medium
- albumen silver print
- Dimensions
- image (visible): 20.5 × 15 cm (8 1/16 × 5 7/8 in.) mat: 33.4 × 28.2 cm (13 1/8 × 11 1/8 in.)
- Classification
- Photograph
- Accession number
- 2023.39.93
- Credit line
- Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, Purchased with support from the Ford Foundation
- Time span
- 1851 to 1875
- Department
- CPH
Subjects and terms
- portrait
- American
- albumen silver print
- Woman
- African American
- Scarf
Provenance
Maryland family estate; Ross Kelbaugh, Marriottsville, MD, c. 1980; NGA purchase, 2023.
Inscription
by unknown hand, on paper found inside of frame in black ink: Adeline Purnell [missing paper] 21- / [missing paper] / 22 ys. [illegible] / handkerchief in which / the picture is framed, is one she used / to wear. She never wore anything else / except such handkerchief as a head / gear, except possibly to her church. / She belonged to the Purnell Family of ^ Eastern Shore, Maryland / and came to us when 14 to 16 yrs. old, having / received her freedom by the Purnell’s will.; on verso of mat, by unknown hand, upper center in graphite: 1 Plain Shagron [?] / Gilt 1 1/2 #5008 F. G. $1.25 [crossed out] / show 1/2 in White matt 4 1/4 width to show / White & Gilt frame $1.50
NGA object ID 227111. 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.