MGHT-PAINTING. 31 



are therefore positive, that is, the lights are light and the shades are dark. 



The Daguerreotype as at first presented, on account of the great 

 length of time required for light to act upon the plate in the Camera, was 

 adapted only to the taking of copies or pictures of fixed inanimate ob- 

 jects, "^rhe honor of first successfully applying it in this manner, as 

 well as of many important improvements in making the plate more sen- 

 sitive &c., it seems is due to Prof. Draper of New York. The plate is 

 rendered incomparably more sensitive than it was in the original pro- 

 cess, by its exposure for a few seconds, after being iodized, to the va- 

 pors of the chloride of iodine, or the mixture of this combination with 

 bromine, until it receives a purplish tint And in order to render the 

 picture unalterable by the further action of tlie light it is washed with 

 a weak solution of the hypo-sulphite of soda, which removes the whole 

 of the iodine from the portion of the plate not yet acted on by the light 

 and exposes the original polish. Finally, to render it permanent, it is, 

 whilst yet wet from the previous operation, washed with a dilute solu- 

 tion of the chloride of gold, which leaves a very thin coating of that 

 metal all over the surface, which effectually protects it against all further 

 atmospheric influences. 



It can now be readily understood why, when the plate is left too 

 long in the Camera, the picture should be "overdone," or become uni- 

 formly pale and destitute of expression. The shades have become lights. 

 On the contrary, those which have not been sufiiciently long exposed to 

 the light, though somewhat too dark to be accurate representations of 

 the color of the original, yet present the lights and shades in a beautiful 

 manner, and give expression and life to the countenance. It is a matter 

 of surprize that so many persons should prefer those cadaverous pic- 

 tures, which look like no body, to those which, though a shade darker, 

 are both better likenesses and look like something that is yet in the land 

 of the living. 



These likenesses, when taken by skillful artists, are absolutely cor- 

 rect, presenting every feature, spot, or wrinkle with perfect accuracy as 

 will appear when they are closely examined with a magnifier. They 

 may be recognized in the most distant lands, and as long as memory 

 lasts. They are therefore invaluable "keepsakes," and mutual friends 

 cannot offer each other a greater gratification for so small an expendi- 

 ture of money. 



But no less accurate and beautiful are me pictures taken by this art 

 of views, landscapes, and inanimate objects, and the most interesting 

 and valuable practical results are obtained by its application in this di- 

 rection. 



