A man posed outdoors alongside a light-colored horse fills this sixth plate daguerreotype, an outdoor subject that would have presented a genuine technical challenge for an early practitioner working beyond the studio. The image dates to the 1850s based on the format, the styling of the case, and the subject's dress. No photographer's imprint is visible.

The man stands at the horse's left shoulder, gripping the bridle firmly with his right hand while holding a lead or crop loosely at his side with his left. He wears a dark frock coat over a waistcoat, a bow tie, trousers tucked into tall working boots, and a flat-brimmed straw hat. The horse, a grey or white with a dark mane and tail, is shown in three-quarter profile facing left, fitted with a simple bridle.

Outdoor equestrian daguerreotypes are among the rarer survivals in the medium, as the long exposure times required to render a horse standing still demanded exceptional cooperation from both subject and animal. The composition, with the horse occupying fully half the frame, suggests the animal was as much the intended subject as the man holding it.

The image is housed in a leather case with an embossed geometric and foliate medallion design on the exterior and an orange-gold embossed velvet pad on the interior lid. The gilt mat is present. No maker's imprint appears on the case interior.

From the collection of James Lee Soffer