Nanoscience of Daguerreotypes

The daguerrotype is the earliest form of photography, invented in 1839 by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. These incredibly detailed images are a form of 19th century nanotechnology. Some of these priceless works are decaying -- developing spots, becoming cloudy, disappearing altogether -- and no one knows why. In a collaboration between the George Eastman House International Center of Photography and the University of Rochester's Integrated Nanosystems Center (URnano), Prof. Bigelow, Brian McIntyre (UR), Ralph Wiegandt (Eastman House), and their students are exploring the intricacies of daguerreotypes, why they decay, what's growing on them, and how to save them.

This work, funded by the National Science Foundation SCIART program, is also building understanding of nanoparticles that could be useful in nano-engineering, medicine, and technology.

Visit the main Nanoscience of Daguerreotypes site.

Learn more

• An exhibit on daguerreotypes and their connection to local history is on display at Rush Rhees Library on UR's campus until February 29th 2016

• Cincinnati Waterfront Panorama Daguerrotype -- zoom in on a daguerrotype and see for yourself just how detailed these works are

• 'A Vanishing Past?' Rochester Review

• 'Nano-Scientists Attempt to Save Disintegrating Artworks' Scientific American

• 'Early Daguerreotype Photographs Get Cloudy on Display' slideshow Scientific American

• 'George Eastman House takes steps to preserve daguerreotypes' Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

• 'Fungi Feasting on Daguerrotypes Help Reveal Nanoparticles' IEEE Spectrum

• Digital analysis and restoration of daguerreotypes with Ross Messing (UR)

• Photographic Preservation and Collections Management Masters at UR

Funding for this work is provided in part by the National Science Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation program on Chemistry and Materials Research at the Interface between Science and Art (SCIART), The George Eastman House, The University of Rochester Nanosystems Center, and NSF-REU.