Ferrotype young man Victorian era. 1870.

Ferrotype depicting a young man from the Victorian era leaning on a fringed armchair.
Notice the hairstyle, tie, jacket and face enhanced with a slight pinkish hue.
Cut top corners (see photos).
Beautiful general condition despite a scratch on the right (see photos).
Around 1860-1870.
8.8 x 6 cm

The Ferrotype process was developed by the Frenchman Adolphe Alexandre Martin (1824-1896) who was looking for a process to improve the engraving work on plates for printers.
Like the ambrotype, the ferrotype uses a collodion photosensitive base. This is spread on a 0.15 mm thick iron plate that has previously been covered with black varnish.
Simple, fast, inexpensive, the Ferrotype will be a huge commercial success and will last until the eve of the Second World War in Europe.
Like other types of black and white images, Ferrotypes can be enhanced with colors applied with a brush by artisan photographers.


If you have any questions, don't hesitate.