I’m so pleased to be offering several scarce W.M. Doyle silhouettes at this time. William Massey Doyle was one of America’s earliest home-grown silhouettists. A very artistic man, Doyle worked created silhouettes, watercolor, oil and pastel portraits and portrait miniatures. His profiles were both hollow-cut and painted. He embellished his hollow-cut silhouettes with watercolor hair and additions to the sitters’ clothing around the edge. We know that he was working in silhouette at least as early as 1806. His silhouettes were reproduced in the early 20th century, and one must always be careful about what you buy. If you are paying for a 19th century silhouette, make sure you are getting a 19th century silhouette. Doyle’s authentic 19th century silhouettes are scarce. This lady wears a bonnet which Doyle has accentuated with watercolor shading and cross-hatching around the edge and tied together daintily with a bow on the top. Doyle seemed to favor little painted bows for ladies’ bonnets and dress fronts. The woman wears a neckerchief or some type of tucker to cover her décolletage and Doyle has painted it in very light, thinned black watercolor so that you can see that it is translucent. Doyle’s hand-written signature is directly below the bust termination line. She resides in a period (possibly original) brass over wood oval frame with a hanging loop. Framed size is 5” x 4”. There is a hole in the brass at about 12 o’clock. Toning to the paper in spots….as you see in the photos. Circa 1810. This is a very good price for an authentic Doyle!

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Please see the Silhouettist Biographies page for more information about William Massey Doyle.