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Charles Herve II, cut and gilded silhouette of a boy

Charles Herve II trade stencil

Item Ref. 3846

CHARLES HERVÉ II circa 1785-1866

This is an attractive full-length silhouette portrait of a schoolboy in profile to the left. He is wearing an Eton suit comprising a short jacket, trousers, buttoned waistcoat, white shirt and knotted cravat. his shoes have heels and pointed toes.

The silhouette is cut and finely gilded and set against a watercolour wash backdrop. It is backed with the artist's stencilled signature and is set in a particularly handsome bird's eye maple veneer frame with a narrow gilt slip. The frame is also glazed on the reverse to show the stencil.

Framed size: 11¾ x 97/8" (300 x 250mm)

Price: £325

The Hervé family boasted several silhouette artists over three generations. In addition to painting silhouettes and miniatures, Charles Hervé II was a professional fruit-grower and a professor of music. He invented a mechanical device for drawing the outline of silhouettes which he called 'Prosopographus, the Automaton Artist' and which he exhibited around the country as a great curiosity.

 

Item Ref. 3165

JOHN FIELD, circa 1818

This is an hisoric bust-length silhouette of a gentleman who is believed to be William Miers, son of the well-known silhouette artist John Miers.

The profile is painted in sepia on card with bronzing to the hair and the side-whiskers. It is signed 'Field' under the bust-line and is housed in a fine papier-mâché frame with a decorative ormolu surround and star hanger.

Literature: See British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860, page 697, illus. 1480 for a portrait on ivory of William Miers

Framed size: 61/8 x 51/8" (156 x 130mm)

Price: £325

John Field (1772-1848) worked first as an assistant to John Miers. By the end of the 1790s he was painting the majority of the studio's silhouettes. Upon the death of John Miers in 1821, he took over the business in partnership with William Miers.

William Miers (1793-1863), the eldest surviving son of John Miers, advertised himself as a silhouettist but was better known as a frame-maker and copper-plate engraver. He specialised in ormolu work and produced decorative surrounds and hangers for the frames used by his father.

John Field, signed silhouette

Cut and gilded silhouette of a young lady

Item Ref. 3681

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1840

This is a small cut and gilded bust-length silhouette of a young lady in a wide-shouldered dress and a twisted gold necklace. Her hair is drawn back into a plaited knot with an unusual plaited loop of hair framing her face.

The silhouette is in fine condition. It resides behind convex glass in a period bird's eye maple frame.

Framed size: 6 x 5" (154 x 132mm)

Price: £165

 

Item Ref. 3630

JOHN MIERS, 1758-1821

This is a fine silhouette portrait of an elegant lady, Elizabeth Walker, wearing a décolleté gown, her hair swept up and arranged in an Apollo knot secured with a large comb.

The profile is painted on plaster and set in the original papier-mâché frame backed with the remnants of the artist's trade label no. 12 in use between about 1810 and 1821. The label now has a protective covering.

Framed Size: 53/8 x 4¾" (137 x 120mm)

Price: £450

Although he never trained professionally, John Miers is considered to be the finest of the 18th century silhouettists. His career began in Leeds when he took over his father's business as a coach-painter & gilder. Having recently married, Miers was keen to expand the business and, in addition to preparing and selling paints, he advertised profile shades in miniature for 2s. 6d. each. He clearly excelled at this from the start as within a few years this had become his main line of business and prompted Miers to move his family first to Edinburgh and eventually to London where he ran a busy and successful studio at the Strand.

John Miers, silhouette of a lady painted on plaster

John Miers, silhouette of a lady with the remnants of a trade label

Early Victorian silhouette of a lady

Item Ref. 3598

ENGLISH SCHOOL, circa 1840

This is a crisp ¾-length silhouette of a lady in a dress that is typical of the early Victorian era with its narrow pointed waistline, full skirt, tight sleeves with frilled cuffs, and lace collar secured with a brooch. Her hair is drawn back into a plaited knot with curls framing her face.

The profile is cut and finely gilded. It is set in a period ebonised frame with an inner gilded border. Excellent condition.

Framed size: 7¼ x 6" (184 x 152mm)

Price: £170

 

Item Ref. 3156

JOHN MIERS (1758-1821)

This is a quality 18th century jewellery silhouette of a gentleman wearing a cravat with lace ends, a style that was typical of the 1790s. He also has on a wig with a pigtail.

The small profile is painted on ivory and is set in a handsome gold frame with an enamelled border on the front and a solid reverse.

Framed Size: 1 x 5/8" (23 x 16mm)

Price: £550

Although he never trained professionally, John Miers is considered to be the finest of the 18th century silhouettists. His career began in Leeds when he took over his father's business as a coach-painter & gilder. Having recently married, Miers was keen to expand the business and, in addition to preparing and selling paints, he advertised profile shades in miniature for 2s. 6d. each. He clearly excelled at this from the start as within a few years this had become his main line of business and prompted Miers to move his family first to Edinburgh and eventually to London where he ran a busy and successful studio at the Strand.

John Miers, jewellery silhouette of a gentleman
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Cynthia McKinley
Wigs on the Green Fine Art, York
Tel. +44 (0)1904 794711             Mobile: 07962 257915
Email: enquiries@wigsonthegreen.co.uk