Coliseum--interior view, Stereoscope Card. Boston, 19th century.

Simon Towle specialised in portrait photography and his work was noted for its technical precision and attention to detail. In the late 1870s, Towle moved to New York City and set up his own studio. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the city's leading portrait photographers, attracting a clientele that included many prominent figures in business, politics and society. Towle's portraits were characterised by sharp focus, careful composition and the use of natural light. He was particularly adept at capturing the personality and character of his subjects, and his images were often praised for their realism and authenticity. Despite his success as a photographer, Towle's life was cut short when he died in 1893 at the age of 38. However, his legacy as a pioneering American photographer lives on through his work, which continues to be studied and admired by photographers and art historians around the world.