Rosenberg, Thomas Elliott (McKechnie Section 6)

See also Section Three

First correctly recorded by Long and mentioned by Jackson (Dictionary) in her entry on Charles Rosenberg (see Section Three), the artist was the eldest son of the latter. A painter of miniatures, landscapes and possibly silhouettes, he was also a drawing master and a teacher of 'practical perspective'. He is included in this book because of the reference to 'Rosenberg and Son', listed as 'Profile-Painters', in the Bath Directory for 1812, which suggests that he (doubtless the 'son' in question) may have assisted his father in the production of silhouettes for a short period. Also, a print by J. C. Stadler (see Appendix Two) is inscribed 'Rosenberg and Son'. His competence in other fields of art suggests that he may himself have painted some of the better silhouettes painted on glass c. 1812 which bear trade labels of his father. I have placed him in this Section, however, because, although no silhouettes or profiles signed or labelled by him are known, his work as a miniaturist and landscape painter suggests that any profiles which came to light might show the sitter's features.

Thomas Elliott Rosenberg was born in Bath on 3 October 1790, and christened in Bath Abbey on 3 November. He may have inherited some of his artistic talent from his mother (née Elizabeth Woolley), whose family was gifted in this respect. In February 1817 he married one Mary Wood. His name does not appear in Bath guides or directories until 1812, when he is referred to in the manner already described. In 1812 he would have been about twenty-one, and no doubt had received some professional artistic training. The address given in the directory entry is 'Wade's Passage'; it is repeated in the Bath Guide of 1813. Further entries (in the Bath Guide, unless it is otherwise stated) are given below:

1815 Rosenberg, Drawing Master, 14, The Grove

1816 Rosenberg, Profile-Painter, Wade's Passage

[in one copy]

Rosenberg, Drawing Master, 14, The Grove

[in another copy)

[The first entry probably refers to Charles Rosenberg; the second to

T. E. Rosenberg working as a drawing master from the family home.]

1817 Rosenberg, Drawing Master, New King Street

1818 Rosenberg, T. E., Drawing Master, 14, The Grove

1819 Rosenberg, T. E., Teacher of Drawing and Practical Perspective, 6, New King Street [Bath Directory]

1822 Rosenberg, T. E., Miniature Painter, Teacher of Drawing and Practical Perspective, 6, New King Street

1825 [as aboveJ

1826 [as above; Bath Guide and Bath Directory]

1829 Rosenberg, Mr., Teacher of Drawing and Practical Perspective, 7, Walcot Parade

1831 T. E. Rosenberg, Miniature Painter and Teacher of Drawing and Practical Perspective, 7, Walcot Parade

Foskett gives the date of Rosenberg's death as 17 June 1835.

Some examples of Rosenberg's work, including landscapes and a portrait miniature painted in strong colours, are in the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. His portrait miniatures are signed.