Attrib. John Miers (1756–1821) - Early 19th Century India Ink Male Silhouette

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SKU:
qp617
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Description

A fine and wonderfully crisp miniature silhouette portrait of a young man. The artist has used a very intense black with elements of ruffled fabric and delicate hair picked out around the edges of the silhouette using a very fine faded ink.

The silhouette is presented in a black frame with a brass, acorn hanging clasp and a brass oval inner window.There is a standing foot at the back. On plaster alabaster block.

Condition

The frame is in fine condition. The silhouette has a small scratch to the black ink at the top of the sitter's head and two more very faint scratches to the left side of the head.

Size

7.3 x 6.3cm (2.9" x 2.5")
Framed Size: 14 x 12.2cm (5.5" x 4.8")

Artist Biography

Born in Leeds, he established a business first in Edinburgh, and operated in various Northern towns before setting up studios in The Strand, London around 1788. Here he operated a very successful business recording customers profiles in "3 minute sittings". His miniatures were produced on ivory or plaster and feature delicate shading to show detail of the hair and clothes. The sitter's face was recorded as a black silhouette.


In 1785, Miers writes on the back of one of his images promoting the process: “preserves the most exact Symmetry and animated expression of the Features, much Superior to any other Method. Time of sitting one minute. N.B. He keeps the original Shades, and can supply those he has once taken with any number of Copies. Those who have Shades by them may have them reduced to any Size, and dress’d in the present taste.”


Miers specialty was painting unrelieved black on plaster. His name was first mentioned in the London Directory of 1792.


At the end of his life in 1821, Miers is considered to have amassed 100,000 profiles in his studio.

More Information
SKU qp617
Artist Attrib. John Miers (1756–1821)
Date Early 19th Century
Dimensions 7.3 x 6.3cm
Medium Pen and Ink
Style Illustration Art
Subject Portrait
Item Returns This item can be returned

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