Mr John Barry

Dating from the 1790s, this portrait of Mr John Barry is the only known example of a silhouette by E. K. Lewis. Delicately painted on paper, it shows him in a toupée with a queue tied with ribbon, the strands of his hair well delineated in shades of grey. The bust-line termination is stepped to show the arm.

Nothing is known about the artist sadly, not even his or her full name.

The silhouette has age browning as might be expected. It is set with convex glass in a later solid brass frame with scrolled decoration. The artist’s name is inscribed reverse as is the name of the sitter.