Daguerreotype portrait of a serious young musician seated with a keyed cornet, posed confidently with one hand resting at his waist and the other firmly gripping the coiled brass instrument. His direct gaze and tightly styled hair, along with the elegantly tailored coat and vest, suggest both discipline and personal pride, likely reflecting the stature of professional or semi-professional band musicians of the mid-19th century.

The instrument he holds appears to be a cornet à pistons, a popular choice in antebellum brass bands and orchestras. The portrait preserves the powerful image of a performer at the height of his musical identity.