Charming and unusual sixth plate daguerreotype featuring a crisply rendered painting of a proud, full-bodied rooster. The image captures the expressive detail of the original artwork with striking clarity, emphasizing the bird’s fanned tail feathers, strong posture, and confident expression. Photographed with a care that honors the subject, the rooster appears almost lifelike under the glassy sheen of the daguerreotype plate.

Though not a direct photograph of a living animal, the composition demonstrates the early photographic interest in translating painted works into permanent, viewable objects—a testament to the medium’s role in documentation and artistic preservation. The painting itself likely dates from the mid-19th century, and the photographic interpretation is housed in a fine sixth plate mat and preserver with ornate gold trim.

Collectors of vernacular photography, animal subjects, and 19th-century daguerreian oddities will appreciate the quirky charm and rarity of this subject matter. An ideal crossover piece for collectors of both folk art and early photography.