Thomason, J.

Introduction:

Little is known about Thomason’s background, not even his first name. However, he is famous amongst collectors for his ‘DIY silhouette’ scheme. Thomason would send instructions to his sitters which enabled them to “take correctly each others’ shades from life which may be sent to be finished in Town”. Apart from this unusual venture there is no record of any work.

Thomason spent two years in Dublin (1790-1792), which were his most prolific years. It is also recorded that he worked in Manchester, Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham, although there are no known work addresses in these areas. Mostly, he worked on plaster slabs, which have trade labels. On these trade labels, he also advertised jewellery work although no signed work is known. Thomason used oval pressed brass frames for his early work although his later work is often framed in rectangular brass frames and oval pearwood.

Thomason worked to finish and stylise outlines taken independently by sitters. He typically painted with thinned watercolour, using strong fine lines to define shape. Thomason was highly skilled in portraying ladies hats, ribbons, feathers and buffoons. He often painted a bow at the front of the bust-line, which is considered a hallmark of Thomason’s work. Bust-lines changed throughout Thomason’s career. In his early work it was sloping, and often with a peak at the arm. Mid-way through his career it was typically very sloping, with a point at the back. Towards the end of his career bust lines were much shallower. Today, many of Thomson’s silhouettes are in private collections. One excellent example featuring a lady in a smart hat sold at Bonhams in 1998 for £1,100. There is also a plainer silhouette of a man displayed at the V & A Museum.