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Item Ref. 4100

ROYAL VICTORIA GALLERY, after 1837 - circa 1854

This is a striking full-length profile of a dashing young gentleman walking by the water's edge with a view of classical buildings. He is wearing a double-breasted tail-coat with buttoned cuffs falling over his kid gloves, a dark waistcoat, and a white cravat tied in neat bow. His hair is curled over his ears and is topped with a magnificent top hat trimmed with a deep black ribbon.

The silhouette has been cut and is finely gilded to highlight all the costume and hair details. The head has been cut as a separate piece from the body as the shirt and cravat details have been added using watercolour. The sepia watercolour background shows the buildings reflected in the water with a hint of sailing ships and distant hills beyond.

Although unsigned, the silhouette is undoubtedly the work of the Royal Victoria Gallery and is probably by Frederick Frith. It is set in a handsome pale wood frame (similar to bird's eye maple but lighter and paler) with a gilt slip.

Framed size: 14½ x 11¼" (370 x 286mm)

Price: £450

The Royal Victoria Gallery was run by three members of the Frith family: brothers, Henry Albert & Frederick and their father, John. The Gallery advertised themselves as 'PAPRYOTOMISTS to His Late as well as to her present Most Gracious Majesty'. They toured Ireland and England during the 1830s and 40s producing highly finished work.

Item Ref. 4030

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1820

This is an idiosyncratic silhouette as it depicts a charming young lady alongside two tiny prancing stags. Quite what the relevance of the stags is eludes me! As for the young lady, she is wearing an elegant high-waisted dress with a flounced skirt, short puffed sleeves and a frilled neckline. She has a gold necklace and earrings and her hair is swept up in an Apollo knot secured with a comb. She is holding a handkerchief.

The silhouette has cut out and laid on buff card. The details of the dress and hair have been outlined in bronze and gum arabic. The silhouette is set in a simple giltwood frame.

Framed size: 9½ x 6" (241 x 154mm)

S O L D !

 

Item Ref. 4260

JAMES H. GILLESPIE, 1815

This is a painted silhouette of a young boy in a black coat and white shirt with a frilled collar. it is dated 1815 on the reverse.

The profile is painted in watercolour with small touches of gum arabic outlining the boy's jacket. It is set in the original papier-mâché frame with an emblems (rose, thistle & shamrock) hanger and is backed with the artist's unbroken trade label advertising "Likenesses drawn in one minute". Fine condition.

Framed size: 4¾ x 4" (122 x 101mm)

Price: £200

James Gillespie (1793-after 1849) was an itinerant artist known to have worked in London, Edinburgh and Liverpool before setting sail in the 1820s for Nova Scotia. His work is well considered by collectors. A fuller account of his career can be found in the News & Comment section.

 

Item Ref. 3621

EDWARD FOSTER, 1762-1865

This is a silhouette portrait of an unknown lady wearing a day dress with a columnar neck culminating in a single ruff under her chin. She also has a fashionable turban which conceals all but a few curls of her hair.

This is one of Foster's early 'black profiles' where the costume details have been carefully outlined using gum arabic. It dates to around 1814 and is set in a papier-mâché frame with a decorative surround and a bunch of grapes hanger.

Provenance: Ex. Sue McKechnie collection
Literature: British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860, page 147, illus. 198
Framed size: 55/8 x 4¾" (144 x 121mm)

Price: £230

The son of a gentleman land-steward, Edward Foster joined the Derbyshire militia at an early age. Over the next 25 years he saw active service during the War of American Independence and then in Holland and Egypt. A few years after retiring from the army, Foster forged a new career in painting with early success that included Royal patronage which earned him his own apartment at Windsor Castle. By the 1820s he had returned home to Derby where he continued to run a successful portrait studio only retiring officially upon his 100th birthday. He was 102 years old when he died having been married five times with 17 children, only the youngest of whom outlived him.

 

Item Ref. 4210

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1850

This small half-length silhouette portrait depicts a teenage scholar wearing a mortar board. A pencil inscription on the reverse names him as 15 year old R. H. Jackson.

The silhouette is cut and gilded and is set in a period rosewood frame with a gilt slip.

Framed size: 7 x 5½" (180 x 142mm)

Price: £160

 

Item Ref. 2394

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1830

This attractive silhouette portrait is painted with a touch of colour and portrays a young lady wearing a dress with full, possibly 'leg of mutton' sleeves and a coral beaded necklace. Her hair is swept up into an Apollo knot and secured with a large comb.

The silhouette is painted in dark grey watercolour with gold paint used to accentuate the hair. It is set in a handsome period bird's eye maple frame.

Framed size: 77/8 x 7½" (185 x 140mm)

Price: £165

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