Buncombe, John (SCC Newsletter August 2007)

John Buncombe fl. 1795 — 1830 (died 1837)

Some more works!

A supplement to an article in the Newsletter of August 2003

I wrote a fairly lengthy article on John Buncombe in the Newsletter for August, 2003 entitled "When is a Buncombe not a Buncombe". In this article I tried to identify a genuine Buncombe from a ‘fake’ or a copy. I was not entirely successful! However, I think it is now accepted that John was the only Buncombe painting military silhouettes working in the Isle of Wight at the end of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth. In other words it is accepted that Charles Buncombe was a school master by profession and not a silhouette artist. Nevertheless there are still problems with silhouettes that can safely be attributed to John Buncombe and I suspect that this will always be the case. Disappointingly in recent years the prices achieved at auction for a Buncombe have declined (as prices have with many other artists of merit) - although I cannot recall a really super Buncombe appearing at a sale in the last few years. We might be pleasantly surprised if one turned up!

Problems have been further exacerbated by copiers over the years. I have some correspondence from a post second world war copier of Buncombes — a skilled artist himself. I think he sometimes signed his own name on the obverse and acknowledged it was a copy on the reverse, but at other times I suspect this was not the case. However, I can say with certainty that the examples reproduced in this article are definitely by John Buncombe unless otherwise stated.

Illustrated above is a photograph of John Buncombe's paint-box. This is in the Collection at Carrisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight and is on display. Below is an engraving of Newport High Street, where John Buncombe lived for many years. I understand the house was at the bottom end on the left-hand side.

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The Carrisbrook Castle Collection

The next eight works by Buncombe are from this Collection. These were left to the Museum by Mr. H. F. Poole in the last century. He was an Isle of Wight resident and a great admirer of Buncombe's work. Mr. Poole made attempts to copy some of his collection, but not very successfully I fear! I will reproduce later in the article one of his efforts alongside the original, but I do not think any collector would be deceived! I have illustrated two of these soldiers and a detail from another in my article in 2003. Now, I will reproduce the latter in full and the other two again for the benefit of new Members. All the examples are from professional photographs. I am grateful to a Member of the S.C.C. for providing information about the ‘sitters’ regiments and ranks.

P.1986-2149. Is illustrated by the paint-box on the previous page. He is probably an officer of the 8th. Light Dragoons c.1816, but "could conceivably be an officer of a yeomanry unit around the same time" I think you can see the blob on the eyelash.

P.1986-1942. This soldier was illustrated in the 2003 article. He is a Field Officer (i.e. Major or Lt. Col.) of a regular or militia regiment of Fusiliers c. 1810. Unfortunately his hair has been over-painted in black - I suspect he has been damaged at some point. Also, he has been badly framed - the frame should not show his bust-line termination and more space should have been left on the right-hand side. The photograph is not of the best!

P.1986-2148 This is a fine example of Buncombe's work - even though there has been some grazing of the gum arabic at the sides of his arms and around his button-holes. He is an officer of the Light Company of the 30th. Cambridgeshire Regiment c. 1815. His eyelash blob is very obvious

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P.1986-2147. This is another fine example of Buncombe’s skills. He is probably from the 99th. Prince of Wales Tipperary Regiment. Apparently this regiment was disbanded in 1818 so examples of this uniform are rare. His blob on the eyelash is visible as well as some typical grazing of the gum arabic on both sides of his arm and belt. It is important to identify where possible the regiment of the ‘sitter’ and hopefully the name of the ‘sitter’ as well – as both add value to the silhouette.

P.1986-2147 I illustrated a detail of this soldier in 2003 to show his stance with his head slightly poked forward – this is somewhat typical of many of Buncombe’s soldiers. He is an officer of a yeomanry (or volunteer cavalry) of possibly Royal Artillery c. 1815. He has presented problems!

P.1986-2145. On the right is a member of the West Cowes Volunteers Infantry. I illustrated this chap in 2003 and expressed the view that the work might not be by Buncombe on the basis that his stance was not very typical and the ‘scale’ of his head was larger than usual and there was no blob on the eyelash. On reflection I think I was wrong to make this assumption and it is most likely that he was a early work before Buncombe had developed his style as we know it.

His hat is a “cavalry confection from two different units c.1796-1802” according to Col. Walton. I understand from him that these units were probably quite small and were all over the Island. Each having its’ own special and distinctive uniform. Also, it is well known that these small local units broke dress codes – so therefore are difficult to identify! Unfortunately his background has become rather stained and a piece ‘chopped’ off the corner on the right, but we cannot have perfection after 200 years!

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Above on the left is an example of the uniform of another group of Isle of Wight Volunteers – in this case the Cowes Volunteers c. 1790. The ‘sitter’ is a member of the Urry Family. On the right is Mr. Poole’s attempt to copy this silhouette and in the centre is his backing label, which shows that he had no intention to deceive!. I have to admit that his effort is not too bad, but I do not think it would fool a serious collector!

P.1986-1943a. On the backing paper for this silhouette (illustrated in the centre above) the name of the ‘sitter’ has been rubbed out but he is said to be “of Hazard’s House, Newport” c.1790. Unfortunately his backing paper has become very discoloured but he has a blob on his eyelash. Also, Mr. Poole states on the backing that civilian silhouettes by Buncombe are rare – this is so, but for some reason these are not obviously highly prized by collectors.

Strangely in this case there is an uncompleted silhouette painted on his reverse, which is illustrated on the right above (P. 1986-1943b) The backing label written by Mr. Poole describes this work stating that “the arm is badly placed and the hand out of the drawing”. This probably accounts for the work not being finished. It is possible that Buncombe tried an unusual pose for the soldier and then found that it did not work. To avoid a waste of paper he painted a civilian on the back! It is very unlikely that anyone else other than Buncombe would have painted this silhouette – so Buncombe’s touch was not always so assured.

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The National Army Museum Collection

Finally The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea contains three splendid works by John Buncombe. All are illustrated on this page together with details of the ‘sitter’s’ regiments and in one case the name of the ‘sitter’ himself.

No.12564. This is of Ensign Francis Innes of the 8th. West India Regiment c. 1808. His eyelash blob is very obvious and also the almost customary grazing of the gum arabic on the sleeve of his jacket.

No.58363. This surprisingly is of an unidentified officer of the 78th. Highlanders c. 1810. Again his eyelash blob is evident and also the number 78 on his belt badge. I think his headgear is simply gorgeous, but I am sure Col. Walton would have the correct name for this!

No.9730. This is of an officer of the 23rd. or Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Museum state that the ‘sitter’ is Major Sir T. Picton, but Col. Walton has researched the career of Major Picton. Apparently he became a Major-General in 1808 and he does not think he could have been in the 23rd. on the relevant date. He thinks the 'sitter' is in all probability a Major Thomas Pearson, who served for a good many years in the 23rd. Also the 23rd 1st Battalion were in the Isle of Wight at the relevant date i.e. 1803-04.

I hope you have enjoyed viewing the Buncombes in these two Collections. I am sure that there must be further Buncombes in other Army institutions in the country, so I intend to keep up my searches in the hope that I can come up with some more at a later date!