Nick Graver writes:

A favorite piece in my collection is a European image, probably from Italy or Paris, circa 1848. It is the portrait of an Armenian antiquesdealer and collector Serovpe Alishan, twin brother of Gevond Alishan, a most prominent Armenian priest in the Mekhitarist Congregation of theArmenian Catholic Church, based on Saint Lazar Island in Venice. I attended the Mekhitarist fathers' primary and secondary school in BuenosAires-quiet a few years back! It was a most striking surprise to find this daguerreotype of an Armenian, related to this congregation, in myhometown. Just the fact that it was an Armenian was rarity enough, but that he is also related to the Mekhitarist Congregation and school, where mygreat uncle was also a priest, is amazing.

The daguerreotype came with a handwritten poem by Father Alishan and contained a most inspiring message of hope, dedicated to his twin brother, the sitter, on their fiftieth birthday. The poem was written in ancient Armenian so I could not manage to read it, and sought help from the schoolmaster-another Mekhitarist father-after I purchased it.

Along with the daguerreotype were some of the archeological and antique pieces that are shown in the portrait. A few of them I was able to purchase along with the image. You can see a collection of coins, on top of a Chinese Go game; a Persian fez-style hat; and some Egyptian figures. Also a Greek "tanagra" head can be seen lying on the table. Serovpe is holding a metal lion's head-which I was able to purchase-and in his lower hand a Greek "tears-holder," used in ancient Greece to collect the tears of a person in grief, and thus measure his pain. The lion might represent the strength or courage to overcome pain, represented by the Greek container. His elevated gaze and posture are most inspiring.

So, of my collection, this is the undisputed masterpiece! I trust other members will agree it's a unique occupational portrait of a fellow collector, and antiquarian, of a most unusual nationality.

"Artist Unknown. Serovpe Alishan. Armenian Antiquarian." Circa 1850. Sixth plate daguerreotype. Europe.Collection of Carlos G. Vertanessian, Buenos Aires, Argentina. daguerrotipia@gmail.com"