Impressive Pair of Silhouettes of a Lady and a Gentleman, painted on card, complete with their original well grained Rosewood frames, first half of the Nineteenth Century. The Gentleman is painted in black, with added gum-arabic and gilt highlighting.
The Lady is also painted in black, with added gum-arabic, china white, pale blue paint and gilt highlighting to the hair and dress, which has a tuille fabric, cleverly painted to look transparent. Under the bust line of both reads "September 1838" in a style which is typical of this Artist. Condition: Superb condition with no imperfections, both are glazed.
Height: (entire including frames) 6.5" (16.5cm). Width: (entire including frames) 5.75" (14.5cm).
James Holmes (1777 - 1860) was principally known as a painter in oils and watercolours and is mentioned as a capable portrait miniaturist in Daphne Foskett’s Miniatures Dictionary and Guide. He was a friend of Beau Brummell and Lord Byron and was patronised by King George IV. However, he is also mentioned in the McKechnie book British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860 and has been greater appreciated of late, although his known output of silhouettes is very limited.
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