A Double Take

This stylish (and presumably married) couple will never be separated as they are housed in a double-sided locket. Painted on card in black and shades of grey, the gentleman wears a pigtail wig ending in a wispy curl and tied with a ribbon bow. The lady has a head of tumbling curls that fall down her back and are decorated with ribbon.

Stylistically these profiles share traits with the work of Samuel Houghton though there are no other examples of his work on card. His apprenctice George Bruce who took over the running of Houghton’s studio around 1792 is likely to have completed work in this medium. It may also be the case that he painted these copies from original Houghton profiles on plaster or ivory.

In fine condition, the profiles are presented in a double-sided gold-plated locket frame.