Seated studio portrait of a middle-aged woman posed in formal attire and framed by an arched mat stamped "S. ROOT 363 BROADWAY N.Y." The sitter wears a dark, sheer-sleeved dress over a striking white inset panel, accented by a mid-chest brooch and dark belt. Elaborate beaded adornments decorate her head covering, which drapes behind her shoulders and complements the refined jewelry at her wrists and ears. Subtle hand coloring touches her cheeks and accessories.

Samuel Root was one of the premier daguerreian operators in New York City, known for technically precise and artistically composed portraits. His studio at 363 Broadway placed him at the heart of mid-century photographic innovation and fashionable portrait clientele. Housed in a floral-embossed full leather case.