House Chaplain John George Butler’s carte-de-visite photograph follows a common convention of the format in its upscale setting, meant to project an image of prosperity and success. Calling card–sized cartes-de-visite—of both celebrities and friends—were avidly collected by the public from the time of the format’s invention in the mid-1850s until around 1870, when the larger format “cabinet card” came into vogue.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “John Butler Carte-de-visite,” https://history.house.gov/Collection/Listing/2009/2009-121-000/ (May 22, 2022)
Office of the Historian
Office of Art and Archives
Attic, Thomas Jefferson Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 226-1300