Rare Civil War Salt Print CDV – Confederate Brig. Gen. Alexander Robert Lawton

Rare Civil War Salt Print CDV – Confederate Brig. Gen. Alexander Robert Lawton, Hand-Tinted
 
This is an exceptionally rare original salt print carte de visite of Brigadier General Alexander Robert Lawton, a prominent Confederate commander and later Quartermaster General of the Confederacy. Produced using one of the earliest photographic processes employed during the Civil War, this salt print features the rich, matte tonality typical of the medium and is far scarcer than standard albumen prints. The image presents a classic bust portrait of the general in uniform, enhanced with delicate period or early hand-applied gray and gold tinting that accentuates the uniform details and facial features, adding a subtle artistic elegance to the photograph. There is no photographer backmark, which is not uncommon on early Southern or field-related images of this type. This image comes from a larger collection of images from Tanner & Vanness. There is no doubt this is their work. The CDV remains in strong condition with excellent contrast, minimal fading, and vibrant tinting, showing only light toning and minor wear consistent with its age on the standard mount 
 
Alexander Robert Lawton (1818–1896) was a Harvard-educated lawyer and politician from Georgia who served with distinction as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. He commanded a brigade under Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley and Peninsula Campaigns before being severely wounded at Antietam in 1862. He subsequently served as Confederate Quartermaster General for the remainder of the war. Postwar, Lawton enjoyed a successful career as a diplomat, railroad executive, and president of the American Bar Association. Identified salt print CDVs of Confederate generals are highly prized by advanced collectors, and the addition of attractive hand-tinting makes this a particularly desirable example for any serious Civil War photography collection, Georgia history assemblage, or general officer portrait gallery.