Portrait of Seven Servants

Amateur photographer Jean-Gabriel Eynard posed seven of his servants in a courtyard corner of his home, the Château Eynard in Geneva. One man and woman still wear their aprons as though they have been pulled outside to fulfill this duty, only to be soon returned to their real responsibilities in the kitchen. Out of deference to their employer or a keen awareness of the requirements of his hobby or both, the seven subjects successfully endured the lengthy exposure. Group portraits were a rare occurrence and a remarkable accomplishment for early daguerreotypists.