A sixth plate ambrotype captures a deeply solemn moment of a mother seated with her three children, one of whom is clearly deceased and lies across her lap. The photograph is a haunting yet tender representation of 19th-century mourning practices, where post-mortem photography was a means of commemorating the deceased. The mother, with an expression of composed sorrow, holds her departed child gently, flanked by her two surviving children who stand solemnly by her side.

The clarity of the image allows for a detailed view of the family's attire, with the mother's checked dress and the children's garments reflecting the period's fashion. This ambrotype is a rare and significant example of post-mortem photography, offering insight into the intimate moments of grief and the ways in which families sought to preserve the memory of their loved ones during a time of high child mortality rates.