1820 - 1887
In September 1850, impresario P. T. Barnum brought Jenny Lind, the "Swedish nightingale," to New York for her first American concert tour. Thanks to Barnum's skillful publicity, excited crowds flocked to her concerts, and Lind's name was eventually tied to every kind of commodity, from songs to gloves, bonnets, chairs, sofas, and even pianos. Some objected to the rampant "Lindomania" that followed her everywhere, but Barnum and Lind continued to pack concert halls for nearly a year, until their partnership soured. Lind eventually settled in England, where she was known for her philanthropy. When Lind came to Brady's studio, operator Luther Boswell made the exposure, and invited his wife to the studio. Many years later, Mrs. Boswell remembered, "She gave me her picture and she gave Luther and me tickets to go to the concert and she sang 'Home Sweet Home.' There was hardly a dry eye in the audience."
Mathew Brady Studio Daguerreotype, 1852
7.3 x 5.7 cm (2 7/8 x 2 1/4 inches) oval; 9.5 x 7.9 cm (3 3/4 x 3 1/8 inches) framed
The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia; museum purchase with assistance from
Kathryn K. Porter and Charles and Judy Hudson