Rate the newly discovered locket photo purporting to be Joseph Smith.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I like it better than the 1842 painting...

Look at the space between the eyebrows. They both show a short vertical wrinkle in the same spot.

[All-American]

The mouth, the nose, and the brow line are the same. It's clearly a younger portrayal, but also very clearly Brigham Young as we know him. I think we'd all know a Joseph Smith photograph when we saw one-- we wouldn't have to squint and lie to ourselves that it might be him.

Let's see where the chips fall. I'm posting the painting of Brigham here. I'm interested to see how many people correctly identify him.

https://www.cougarboard.com/board/me...ml?id=28983684

[falafel]

Let's see where the chips fall. I'm posting the painting of Brigham here. I'm interested to see how many people correctly identify him.

https://www.cougarboard.com/board/me...ml?id=28983684

Not exactly a scientific study. I'm guessing that plenty of people in the test pool have seen that image before and know that it is Brigham. Just like you could show people any image of Joseph Smith (and there are plenty that look nothing like each other) and people would recognize it as Joseph - despite the fact that we have no accepted photograph of him.

[All-American]

Not exactly a scientific study. I'm guessing that plenty of people in the test pool have seen that image before and know that it is Brigham. Just like you could show people any image of Joseph Smith (and there are plenty that look nothing like each other) and people would recognize it as Joseph - despite the fact that we have no accepted photograph of him.

True. Also, we have tons of photographs of Brigham, so they may recognize him just based on what they know he looks like from better pictures. But still, I'll be interested to see how they respond.

Early indication is that most serious responses recognize him, but I don't think all serious responses do.

[Jeff Lebowski]

True. Also, we have tons of photographs of Brigham, so they may recognize him just based on what they know he looks like from better pictures. But still, I'll be interested to see how they respond.

Early indication is that most serious responses recognize him, but I don't think all serious responses do.

IndyCoug can't follow basic instructions.

[Commando]

How would we know a Joseph Smith photograph when we saw one?

From the bazillions of paintings we've seen since Primary. Big pointy nose, pointy cheek bones, swishy hair. This dude looks more like the guy who plays Sandman from that Spiderman movie.

[falafel]

From the bazillions of paintings we've seen since Primary. Big pointy nose, pointy cheek bones, swishy hair. This dude looks more like the guy who plays Sandman from that Spiderman movie.

The pointy nose is there. The swishy hair is there. Chin looks accurate. Pointy cheekbones? Never head cheek bones described like that.

[falafel]

https://www.knowbrotherjoseph.com/background

[Art Vandelay]

A friend of mine who is into early church history way more than I am is convinced the photo is of Joseph’s cousin George A Smith. Based upon this older picture of GAS, it is a compelling argument.
DD50CB32-51E2-43FA-8F52-EBE0EA7740C5.jpeg

[All-American]

From the bazillions of paintings we've seen since Primary. Big pointy nose, pointy cheek bones, swishy hair. This dude looks more like the guy who plays Sandman from that Spiderman movie.

Exactly.

Do you know how many of the bazillions of paintings we've seen since primary were drawn in his lifetime?

[BigFatMeanie]

I think trying to compare paintings to the death masks is interesting. The death mask was taken after he was shot and there are various things in play such as blood loss, bloating, lividity, rigor mortis, the fall from the window, etc. Maybe all those things are non-factors, and I have zero forensic or medical background, but it instinctively seems strange to me that the death mask would a good comparison point.

[Commando]

The pointy nose is there. The swishy hair is there. Chin looks accurate. Pointy cheekbones? Never head cheek bones described like that.

Sorry-- prominent, then.

[Northwestcoug]

Look at the space between the eyebrows. They both show a short vertical wrinkle in the same spot.

OK now that's interesting. I'm more intrigued.

[falafel]

OK now that's interesting. I'm more intrigued.

So does my face!

[Northwestcoug]

So does my face!

Are you a descendant of Joseph?!?

But in the painting it's off to the left. Seems like it was prominent enough for the painter to notice and include it.

I'm still the skeptical one, but I'm warming to the idea.