Thomas, R. (McKechnie Section 1)

Recorded by Jackson (The History of Silhouettes), who mentions a silhouette of an officer, in an engraved mount. Known also from a silhouette illustrated in an article by Mr G. Bernard Hughes ('English Silhouettes', Part II, Country Life, 4 May 1945) and from a trade label (National Portrait Gallery). This silhouette (of a man) appears to date from the 1820s. It is in unrelieved black, except possibly for a little vague brushwork indicating the outline of the hair. The base is wide (a typical feature of the 1820s) and the bust-line a long, sloping arc.

Although Jackson describes the silhouette of the officer as executed in Indian ink, Thomas probably worked mostly as a cutter and, in view of the low price of 1s quoted on the trade label, probably only in bust-length. This label has several points of interest. Apparently Thomas sold his profiles unframed but ready for display, edged with gold paper and mounted on backgrounds of coloured paper. Presumably surviving examples might be found presented in this way. The text of the trade label is as follows:

WARRANTED LIKENESSES

TAKEN BY THE PATENT MACHINE

AT ONE SHILLING EACH.

BY R. THOMAS, 83, LONG-ACRE

In a way superior to those taken by any other artist, at 2s. 6d.

Being bordered by Real Burnished Gold paper on rich coloured grounds, they are therefore fit to hang in any Room without the additional expense of a frame.

Mr. T. is enabled to make this liberal offer to the Public in consequence of an Order he has received from a Gentleman of eminence, to procure 50,000 different Profiles of the Human Countenance, for a Treatise on Physiognomy.

Printed by W. Calvert, Great Shire Lane,

Lincolns' Inn, London.