The son of the artist's brother Frederick Fraser, Frederick Grimke Fraser inherited the family plantation in Prince William Parish. Shortly after his nephew's death Fraser seems to have copied a daguerreotype taken about 1850 by C. L'Hom-Dieu. In transferring the photographic likeness to watercolor, Fraser has been loyal to the pose and features of the sitter; however, the addition of color, albeit very subdued, humanizes the portrait. The last known painting by Fraser, this miniature exemplifies the tight stippling technique of Fraser's final style. Although the daguerreotype was responsible in part for the demise of the miniature portrait, Fraser himself was intrigued by the new technique and sat before a daguerreotypist for his portrait about 1845. He appears as a confident
and intelligent older gentleman, apparently at ease before the camera.
Notes:
This text is adapted from Martha Severens "The Miniature Portrait Collection of the Carolina Art Association" published by the Carolina Art Association, 1984
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