Item No. 1213502

A CDV portrait of actress Maggie Mitchell. The mount bears the imprint of J. Gurney & Son on both the front and reverse. The image was part of the family album of Bernard J. D. Irwin, the noted army surgeon, naturalist, and Medal of Honor recipient. The carte measures about 2 1/2” x 4 1/8”.

Mitchell was a popular American stage actress of the mid-19th century, best known for her performances in light comedy and romantic roles, particularly in Fanchon, the Cricket, a role with which she became closely identified. She was a prominent theatrical figure during the Civil War and is remembered for her association with John Wilkes Booth, with whom she was romantically linked earlier in her career. Mitchell also performed before Abraham Lincoln, who was known to have attended the theater frequently and admired Mitchell’s performances.