Houghton and Bruce (McKechnie Section 4)

See also Section Five and Houghton, Samuel, and Bruce, George, in this Section

Recorded by Coke (Confessions of an Incurable Collector). The first mention of the partnership between Samuel Houghton and George Bruce occurs in the Edinburgh and Leigh Post Office Directories for 1793-94, where the artists are listed as profile painters at 31 South Bridge Street. This indicates that their partnership must have begun at least as early as 1792. Bruce was probably Houghton's pupil for at least a year before Houghton took him into partnership. The same directories list the partners, again as profile painters, at the address 'Head of Anchor Close' for the years 1794-97. The trade label used by Houghton and Bruce gives no address. The partnership was terminated by Houghton's death during 1796 (probably in the latter half of the year, since the 1797 edition of the Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directories lists the two partners). Bruce married Houghton's widow and assumed control of the business.

Silhouettes produced by the partnership would either be mature work by Houghton or early work by the much younger Bruce. It is possible to distinguish their styles with some confidence (see the magnification photographs in this Section). Known examples bearing their joint trade label are few. Of those illustrated, one (framed with a verre églomisé border) is of a type similar to that painted by Houghton independently, though better executed; two are framed under convex glass with a plain band of verre églomisé, which is itself in turn surrounded by a black border at the edge of the glass. Pearwood frames are to be expected, although one example (in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London) is in an oval hammered brass frame.

One trade label (illustrated) is known. Its text is identical with that of the label used by Houghton independently (except for the addition of Bruce's name); consequently, more stress is laid on jewellery work than on profiles painted on plaster.

Ills. 1262-1266