Chouteau’s Pond with Collier’s White Lead factory
In December 1851, the Missouri Republican declared Thomas Easterly’s landscape views the most “eminently successful” of their kind. In the mid-19th century, outdoor photography was notoriously difficult due to the bulk of the equipment; varied lighting conditions; and the unpredictable motion of people and animals, such as the cows in this image, during the long exposure time. Despite these constraints, Easterly produced many stunning views that remain some of the first photographic images of his adopted city.
Object Title and Accession Number
Chouteau’s Pond with Collier’s White Lead factory in the background. Daguerreotype by Thomas M. Easterly, 1854. N17023.
A vintage photo showing cows grazing near a pond in the foreground. In the background, there is an industrial building with a smoking chimney and a small clock tower. The scene is set in a pastoral landscape with a church steeple visible afar.