Cracknell, William Willis (McKechnie Section 2)

Known from a finely painted profile of George III, taken in 1796 and signed by the artist. As Cracknell used a considerable amount of gum arabic on the surviving profile, it is possible that he was a minor miniaturist who painted a 'stock' silhouette of George III for sale to patriotic clients.

Cracknell painted skilfully on card in tones of grey, depicting detail in paler shades of grey and relieving deeper tones (which are almost black) by the addition of gum arabic to the water-colour. On the silhouette of George III, the painting of the Star of the Garter is extremely fine, composed of strokes of pale grey, neatly depicting the radiating lines of the star, against a gum arabic surround which shows off the star to its best advantage. The hair is also well painted in thinned water-colour, with darker strokes adding detail to a background in pale grey wash. The rendering of the ribbons on the pigtail wig is also neat and distinctive.

The silhouette bears no trade label but is signed twice on the reverse in a neat cursive hand: 'Drawn by W. W. Cracknell, July 16, 1796'.

Ills. 726, 727

726
George III
Silhouette painted on card in shades of grey, with detail in gum arabic 16 July 1796
4 x 3in./102 x 77mm.
Frame: oval, hammered brass

 

Signed twice on the reverse, ‘Drawn by W. W. Cracknell, July 16, 1796’. The King is wearing the ‘Windsor uniform’, without the hat. This costume was worn as early as 1784, as we know from Mrs Papendiek’s Court Private Life in the Time of Queen Charlotte (London, 1887), ed. Mrs Delves Broughton, Page 219, where the author mentions an occasion during that year when the ‘King, sons of gentlemen were all in Windsor uniform of dark blue, with red cuffs and collars, and gold-laced button-holes’. The occasion was a concert of music by Handel.

 

Author’s collection

 

727
Inscription on the reverse of the silhouette of George III (726) by W. W. Cracknell.

 

Author’s collection