Dixon, W. (McKechnie Section 1)

Known from two full-length silhouettes seen by Mr W. E. Fox-Smith: both are signed and appear to have been taken during the late 1830s or early 1840s. This seems a little too late for the silhouettes to be by the miniature painter William Dixon, who entered the Royal Academy Schools on 11 December 1789 and exhibited portraits, shipping subjects, and miniatures at the Royal Academy 1796-1824. Another artist named William Dixon lived in Dublin at 43 Cuffe Street in 1815, and at 29 Dawson Street in 1818. A miniature painter who also ran a haberdashery business, he might conceivably have added the cutting and painting of silhouettes to his other activities in later life. Both these artists are recorded by Foskett.

The two silhouettes seen by Mr Fox-Smith were embellished with gold on black paper, with backgrounds sketched in pencil. They were framed in maple.

Each silhouette was signed 'W. Dixon' near the foot of the figure.