A young child identified as a relation of John B. Anderson stands in a full-length portrait, rendered as a sixth plate daguerreotype by the prominent New York studio of Rufus P. Anson, active at 589 Broadway from 1853 through at least 1860. The image carries exceptional hand-applied tinting throughout, bringing vivid color to an already accomplished studio composition. Anson was among the most prolific daguerreotypists working in antebellum New York, employing fifteen camera operators by 1860.

The child wears a richly tinted plaid dress with short puffed sleeves, a broad white flat collar, and black lace-up boots, with white stockings visible above the ankle. A dark beaded necklace circles the throat, and the subject rests one hand on the curved arm of an ornate cast-iron chair while meeting the lens with a direct, solemn expression. Applied color renders the dress in deep red, blue, and tan plaid, with rosy tinting on the cheeks.

Rufus P. Anson operated one of the highest-volume daguerreotype galleries in New York City during the 1850s, and the quality of tinting and studio props visible here reflect the resources of his large Broadway establishment.

A paper label pinned to the red velvet liner of the opposite case half reads "John B. Anderson, Raf's Grandfather." The mat and preserver are gilt, and the stamp "Anson, 589 Broadway" is impressed into the velvet liner. The leather case features an embossed floral and scrollwork design on both covers.