John Plumbe Jr.

John Plumbe Jr. was active in photography during the pivotal years of 1839 through 1845, securing his position within the earliest generations of practitioners in the medium. His significance is established by the presence of his work in institutional collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Seven of his photographs are currently represented in these museum collections.

Plumbe Jr.'s surviving work consists primarily of portraiture. His catalog of recognized images includes studies such as Dr. Edward Livingston, [Man with Chinstrap Beard], and [Elderly Man Holding Ivory-topped Walking Stick]. He also captured complex family groupings, exemplified by Elizabeth Bakewell James and her Son, Frank B. James and the related work, Elizabeth Page Bakewell and her Grandson, Frank B. James.

The clarity and technical merit of his early compositions ensure that they are preserved to museum-quality standards. Due to the historical nature of the works, many of the surviving John Plumbe Jr. prints are considered public domain, increasing their accessibility for historical research and allowing for the production of high-quality prints.