Albert Southworth family

One of the pioneers of American portrait photography, Albert Sands Southworth (standing, right) joined with Josiah Johnson Hawes to create daguerreotypes unrivaled for their artistry and their technical achievement. Southworth made his first daguerreian experiments in collaboration with his friend Joseph Pennell, and in 1841 they established a studio in Boston. After Pennell's departure in 1843, Southworth brought Josiah Hawes into the enterprise, and their creative partnership began. Committed to attaining "the highest perfection possible" in their work, the duo excelled in creating beautifully composed and expressive daguerreotype portraits, particularly in the large (8 ½ x 6 ½-inch) and technically demanding whole-plate format. Southworth & Hawes also produced works in a variety of other sizes, including vignetted miniature images that were intended for use in photographic jewelry. Southworth & Hawes may not have advertised such jewelry, but there is evidence to indicate that it was part of their studio's output.