Kerry, R. and W. (SCC Newsletter March 1996)

Messrs R.& W. Kerry - Artists. 

Recorded - but little known.

These artists are recorded in Mrs. N. Jackson's "A History & Dictionary of Artists" as she had seen "a stencil mark on two silhouette portraits painted in black & colour, interior decoration of the room being also in colour". The description seems to imply that the work was painted on card and probably full-length. The stencil mark could have been on the obverse or the reverse of the silhouette but no other details are given.

Photographed above are two silhouettes which was sold sometime in 1995 at Sothebys Billingshurst. They are both painted on some kind of plaster composition - neither has been out of it's frame, although the one on the left has lost it's backing paper and label. The plaster ovals are stuck firmly into the frames and backed with an oval piece of wood. The complete silhouette on the right has a piece of beige coarsish backing paper with a strip of printed label. I have photographed the label on the next page.

The silhouettes are painted in a dense black with a thinned black pigment used for ribbons, buffon, frills and some details of hair. A slightly lighter shade has been used to give 'depth' to the ribbons.The painting details is somewhat coarse compared with the work of John Miers, S. Houghton and Thomason, but is similar to that of Mrs. Lightfoot and some of the Miers X work. Never-the less the overall effect is pleasing and generally attractive. For similarity of style look at illustration no. 651 on page 1273 by Mrs. Lightfoot and illustrations of some of the Miers X work on page 661 nos. 1328 & 1329 - both in Mrs. McKechnie's Book.

R. & W. Kerry cont'd.

It would appear from the style of the sitters hats and other costume detail that the silhouettes were painted about 1790 - 1800 or so. The size of the ovals are 9 cms by 7 cms and the actual silhouettes are 5¾ cms and 6½ cms in height respectively. The frames are pressed brass 11½ cms by 9½ cms.

I have looked up these Artists in a number of art reference books but have found nothing. I have also looked through a collection of artists' trade labels at the British Museum but have been unable to find anything. I am not quite clear where to go from here if anywhere! Not having a place of work or residence makes it pretty difficult to know where to begin. There may be central sources of reference for artists, which I intend to explore and I will let you now in due course if I make any progress.

It is interesting that when the silhouettes were sold at Sothebys it was apparently not noticed that there was a label on the back of one - or else it was noted but felt not to be of any importance!

Again let me know if any of you have seen similar examples on plaster - even better if you have come across a Kerry trade label or a 'bit' of one. There is something to be said for Mrs. N. Jackson after all these years and inspite of the publication of Mrs. McKechnie's marvellous work. She just seems to have noted any name she came across related to the subject of silhouette. Having said this some of her 'notes' can be quite tantalising as she gives such little detail - but we cannot have everything!