Silhouettes

Antique Silhouette from Edouart's Rescued Folios of Miss Ann White, Edinburgh
  • Offered is a lovely silhouette of young “Mifs Ann White” of 6 Mary Place and taken June 24, 1830 by Auguste Edouart. Miss Ann’s silhouette was found in Edouart’s rescued folios and is noted in Mrs. Jackson’s book at page 173. It appears that Miss Ann had her profile cut in Edinburgh along with family members Dr. George White, Mrs. George, Master Wm. Alex., Miss Eliezer, and Miss Grace. However, the address of the other White family taken on that same date is listed as 9 Buccleuch (which Mrs. Jackson’s list both correctly spells and incorrectly spells as Buckleugh). Perhaps Miss Ann was a visiting cousin….. I have been unable to pinpoint the family genealogical records, so we may never know.

    Miss Ann’s profile is full of life as she points her toe and holds her skirt in a dance step. She even bows her head slightly as one would in acknowledging one’s dance partner. Edouart has cut her hand beautifully as well as the ruffles, ribbons, and bows of her dress and pantaloons. He has emphasized the curls of her hair with thin cut lines along the back. This is just a lovely example of Edouart’s best work.

    Miss Ann was placed on the current background by Mrs. Jackson as she removed and restored the silhouettes from the rescued folios (if you don’t know about the duplicate folios and their need for rescue, please make sure and read about Edouart on my Silhouettists Bios page—link below). As always, Mrs. Jackson had a keyhole cut in the back of the paper so that Edouart’s inscription on the reverse of the figure can be seen. As Mrs. Jackson did whenever possible, she also cut Edouart’s inscription from the bottom of the original folio page and pasted it below the figure. The back of the paper bears Mrs. Jackson’s collection label. Miss Ann resides in a period flat profile wood frame that appears to have been gilded but later had another, duller finish wiped over the gilding. It is still quite lovely. There is glass to both the front and the back of the frame so you can see Edouart’s writing on both sides. Framed size 12” x 13 ¾”. Sight size 7 ¾” x 9 5/8”. Mrs. Jackson’s background card is framed within a paper mat that is almost the exact same color…and hard to see. Without close inspection, it looks like one continuous background paper (which makes me very happy).

    This is an excellent example from Edouart, in lovely condition and at a very good price.

    #5748    Sold

    Provenance: Collection of Mrs. F. Nevil Jackson
    Reference: Jackson, Mrs. F. Nevil, Ancestors in Silhouette by August Edouart, The Bodley Head, London; John Lane Co., New York, 1921, at 173.

    Please see the Silhouettist Bios page for more information about Auguste Edouart.