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We have been able to find virtually no information on this American boy who appears to have been something of a child prodigy. At least he certainly is a very young violin player. He is of special interest becuause we have obtained a quarter-plate daguerreotype of him. This is the oldest photographic image that we have of any prodigy. The boy is identified in the intact full-case as Willie F. Underwood, and the portrait is dated 1855. He looks to be about 4 years old. Unfortunatelt, we know nothing about his musical abilities other than he played the violin at a very young age. Of course it is also possible that he was only pictured with the violin because his mother pmanned lessons for him. No information is available on his concerts or any contribution to the world of music as an adult. Willie in the portrait appears seated on a draped stool or chair with the drapery slightly tinted red. The boy is dressed in finery that only a mother could love, a low cut vlouse with ruffles, velvet kneepants, pantalettes, and the wildest plaid stockings. Also notice his hair. It is not long, but styled in a kind of curl on the top of his head. A HBC reader writes, "I am not sure if this child is a violin prodigy. He certainly is beginning to play at a very young age, but that does not necesarily mean that he had phenomenal talent. The image is nine the less interesting because it is such an early picture and clearly identified as a boy." HBC has ineed been unable to find any information confirming that this boy did in fact perform pubically as a child prodigy. This does not mean that he did not. Regretably very little information survives about many child prodigies.
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