Locke, M. (SCC Newsletter September 2009)

M. Locke fl. 1829 - 1846

A recorded artist, but no illustrations of his work are recorded

Mrs. McK. had not seen a work by this artist when she published her Book. She only knew about the artist from an entry in Mrs. Jackson's "Dictionary". This entry simple referred to the existence of a silhouette of a lady holding a book, which was signed and dated "Locke M. fecit 1843".

Mrs McK. has an entry in her Book in Section one (those artists who cut their silhouettes in paper or card) on page 252. In this she tried to link the artist with a number of miniature painters listed by Mrs D. Foskett that were named Lock (note without an 'e' ),mbut no linkage was convincing.

However, since the publication of the Book the Malahide Castle in Dublin has come to ‘light'. This Collection included two works by Locke—both are signed and dated in the same manner as the lady recorded by Mrs Jackson. The style of these two works makes it unlikely that Mr Locke was ever a miniature painter in my view!

The conversation piece illustrated above was sold recently at Christie's, South Kensington! their Avon Sale on 21st May this year. It was from the Andrew & Vibeke Jenkins Collection. The Jenkins had run a very well-known antique shop in Bradford-on-Avon for 46 years. The work is signed & dated "M Locke fecit 1844" It was described in the catalogue as "A family in an interior, the white cliffs of Dover out of the window beyond" - with stipple engraving, with black paper cut-outs, pencil & wash. It was lot 100 in the Sale and it made £1,100 on the hammer (est. 600-800) It is just possible to see the cliffs out of the left-hand window. The artist’s signature is at the back of the gentleman's feet—but again difficult to see from the photocopy above. In many ways the lithograph background is more interesting then the figures—although the whole makes a pleasant composition.

Locke Page 11

I have reproduced photographs of the works in the Malahide Castle Collection on the right at the top and in the centre. Unfortunately the photos are not good and were taken in a hurry when Ian Cross and myself were cataloguing the Collection some years ago! The two ladies have a lithograph background and they are signed "M. Locke fecit 1829". The officer holding his sword has some gold highlights and a wash foreground. He is signed and dated "M. Locke fecit 1843"

In addition I was recently looking through the photograph collection belonging to Mrs McK's archives, when I found the photo of the gentleman with his two children, which I have reproduced below. It is signed & dated "M. Locke fecit 1844". Strangely the photo seems to have been overlooked by Mrs McK. as she had made no notes on the reverse (which was her wont). Perhaps she was uncertain in-spite of the obvious signature. There is no indication of the type of frame in which it was housed but it does have a rough wash foreground by the ’sitters' feet.

Nothing is known about Mr Locke's background—possibly he was an itinerant artist. I think there is little hope of finding out where he lived or for how long he cut silhouettes—unless a work comes to light with an address or a newspaper advertisement is discovered.

As can be seen from the conversation piece and the other silhouettes on this page his style is very distinctive and unvaried. Also, it is quite a simple cut-out style in my view, although not unattractive with the somewhat stiff stance of his figures. I think other examples by him should be relatively easy to attribute even if these were not signed. However, if the examples found so far are anything to go by he is likely to regularly sign his works. I doubt if he was very prolific or successful as an artist and I think it is unlikely that he cut bust-length works.

It would be good to know if any of you have a signed work by Mr. Locke. If so, I would very much appreciate a photograph or an email to dick.eager@btinternet.com.