Poor Pussy

Poor pussy indeed!

Whilst dogs are often included in silhouette portraits, cats are rarely seen. Indeed most silhouette artists found it difficult to produce a realistic-looking cut profile of a cat and this example of a cat with fern-like whiskers is no exception. The children on the other hand are well cut and gilded, the little boy in a tunic and trousers holding a toy whip whilst the girl wrestles with the poor pussy.

Dated November 1846, the silhouette is backed with a trade label from the Hubard Gallery. The Gallery was established in 1822 by a businessman seeking to exploit the precocious talents of the child artist William James Hubard. Touring the country, they struggled to keep up with the demand for profiles so local artists with differing styles and abilities were employed.

The silhouette has very light age darkening with spotting to the bottom right corner and a couple of small gum marks. It is held in the original flat profile bird’s eye maple frame with a narrow (now tarnished) gilt slip.