The Budding Gardener

This charming silhouette of a boy wearing a buttoned tunic and holding a spade was cut in 1837. The sepia watercolour background with its column and drapes suggests a grand interior setting. A label on the backing board names the child as Gustavus 8th Viscount Boyne.

Gustavus Russell Hamilton-Russell was born at historic Brancepeth Castle, Co. Durham in May 1830 and was just seven years old when this silhouette was cut. He was the only child of Gustavus Hamilton-Russell, 7th Viscount Boyne and Emma Maria Russell. Educated at Oxford, Gustavus then married an Earl’s daughter, Katherine Frances Scott and with her had a large family of nine children. He inherited the Viscountcy in 1872 upon the death of his father. He died in 1907 at the age of 77, his wife having pre-deceased him by four years. Strangely she was buried in Co. Durham whilst he was interred in Shropshire.

Signed ‘Augn Edouart fecit 1837’ and in good condition with just a hint of old gum around the child’s shoulder, the silhouette resides in a period bird’s eye maple veneer frame with a gilt slip. The original backing board has been replaced with conservation board.

Finding himself exiled in England with a wife and young family to support, Augustin Edouart opened a shop in Cheltenham selling French curios and artificial flowers but the venture was short-lived and a bankruptcy notice was published in May 1826. He had also tried his hand at creating pictures of animals and landscapes out of hair. These found favour with HRH Duchess of York who commissioned portraits of her beloved dogs. The work was, however, time-consuming and so not cost-effective. But all was not lost, as Edouart discovered he had an aptitude for cutting silhouettes and, third time lucky, this venture proved hugely successful. He spent the next fifteen years travelling around the British Isles cutting thousands of profiles including many authors, musicians, politicians and royalty before setting sail to the United States where again he found favour and success.