Trailblazing findings on the properties of daguerreotypes discovered by the Met and UNM

Scientists from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The University of New Mexico, in collaboration with Century Darkroom, Toronto, have determined how the light scattered by the metallic nanoparticles on the surface of a daguerreotype determines the characteristics of its image, such as shade and color. The pioneering research provides an in-depth understanding of these 19th century photographs, which is crucial for their preservation.