Matthew Brady
Shawana Hackney
3-8-13
US History
War – an unseen perspective through the lens of Matthew Brady
On May 18th, 1822 in Warren County NY one of the most celebrated 19th Century American photographers was born to Andrew and Julia Brady. He is best known for his documentation of the Civil War and is credited with being the father of photojournalism. He won many awards and had many galleries and studios. Brady married his wife Juliette Handy who he met in 1851. He lived in Warren County until he was sixteen and then moved to New York City. There he got a job as a department store clerk, but didn't stay there long because he started his own small business manufacturing jewelry cases. After working a short time in Albany with William Page, he accompanied the painter to New York. He studied under Samuel F.B Morse, who had recently introduced photography to America.
He was learning the new Daguerreotype process, which was the first practicable method of obtaining permanent images with a camera. This process was an image that was made directly on a sheet of copper that was plated with silver, then polished and exposed to iodine vapor so that the image would be sensitive to light. This process went through several other steps and then was developed with mercury vapor. When he mastered this process he became known as one of the nation’s finest photographers. In 1844, Mathew Brady opened his first studio in New York City called The Daguerrean Miniature Gallery at 205-207 Broadway. He entered the annual Fair of the American Institute and won in 1844, 1845, 1846, 1849, and 1857. In 1845 he opened a Gallery of Famous people. In 1850, he published a collection of photographs called “A Gallery of Illustrious Americans” displaying the most famous Americans of the time. Brady captured a young politician by the name of Abraham Lincoln, who later used the portrait in his presidential campaign. Twelve years later after opening his studio in New York, Brady opened a studio in
3-8-13
US History
War – an unseen perspective through the lens of Matthew Brady
On May 18th, 1822 in Warren County NY one of the most celebrated 19th Century American photographers was born to Andrew and Julia Brady. He is best known for his documentation of the Civil War and is credited with being the father of photojournalism. He won many awards and had many galleries and studios. Brady married his wife Juliette Handy who he met in 1851. He lived in Warren County until he was sixteen and then moved to New York City. There he got a job as a department store clerk, but didn't stay there long because he started his own small business manufacturing jewelry cases. After working a short time in Albany with William Page, he accompanied the painter to New York. He studied under Samuel F.B Morse, who had recently introduced photography to America.
He was learning the new Daguerreotype process, which was the first practicable method of obtaining permanent images with a camera. This process was an image that was made directly on a sheet of copper that was plated with silver, then polished and exposed to iodine vapor so that the image would be sensitive to light. This process went through several other steps and then was developed with mercury vapor. When he mastered this process he became known as one of the nation’s finest photographers. In 1844, Mathew Brady opened his first studio in New York City called The Daguerrean Miniature Gallery at 205-207 Broadway. He entered the annual Fair of the American Institute and won in 1844, 1845, 1846, 1849, and 1857. In 1845 he opened a Gallery of Famous people. In 1850, he published a collection of photographs called “A Gallery of Illustrious Americans” displaying the most famous Americans of the time. Brady captured a young politician by the name of Abraham Lincoln, who later used the portrait in his presidential campaign. Twelve years later after opening his studio in New York, Brady opened a studio in