Portrait of a distinguished older gentleman, seated in formal attire and grasping a walking stick, identified within the case as “Burr.” The sitter’s profile view, austere expression, and composed presence convey a quiet authority, hinting at his connection to Hartford’s early civic and social life. Captured by Augustus Washington, one of the most important African American daguerreian photographers of the 19th century, the image carries both historical and artistic significance.

Washington operated the Washington Gallery in Hartford, Connecticut, where he produced finely executed portraits of the city’s professional and political elite. The Burr family was among Hartford’s most prominent lineages, with roots extending back to Benjamin Burr, one of the original settlers in 1635. The inscription on the case provides a vital clue to the sitter’s identity, suggesting a possible direct link to this foundational family and further anchoring the daguerreotype within the local historical narrative. Washington’s work is rare and increasingly sought after, both for its quality and the compelling biographical arc of the artist himself.