A sepia-toned daguerreotype-style portrait of a 28-year-old Irish-American man from the 1870s or 1880s. He is slim, with a close-cropped beard and a mop of hair that lies to one side. He stares directly at the viewer with a serious, intelligent, slightly haunted expression. He wears rugged expedition attire in the style of Lewis and Clark — a canvas or leather coat, possibly a bandana or neckerchief, and heavy trousers. A delicate hawk-shaped pin is attached to his shirt or jacket. A stiletto is visible in a leather sheath on his belt. Tucked under one arm is a brass surveyor’s transit. The background is softly blurred, suggesting rocky terrain or wilderness, with faint hints of strange ruins or monoliths. The image has realistic facial lighting, slight vignette edges, and the subtle wear and softness typical of 19th-century daguerreotypes. See more