Lowe, T. (SCC Newsletter April 2001)

Mr.T? LOWE fl.1820-1840's At the PERCIVAL Gallery & going it alone!

In the first half of the nineteenth century a number of silhouette artists combined with one another to form a GALLERY. This would travel about the country - sometimes operating in a number of different towns simultaneously with a variety of artists. The Percival Gallery was one of these in the 1820's - it travelled to many parts of Britain including Scotland, Manchester, Liverpool, Dublin, Cork & Limerick. It evidently proceeded Edouart's first visit to Ireland. It also had an address in London at No.287, The Strand. Apparently it took 1000's of likenesses during it's existence, but there are no extant silhouettes that can be attributed to the Gallery. This probably accounts for many of the unnamed and unlabelled examples that turn up at salerooms in 'job' lots!

Mrs. N. Jackson records an advertisement /handbill (see P.135 of her Dictionary) when the Gallery was on its travels - the artists then employed by the Gallery were given as Messrs. Percival & Lowe with Mr. Megit & able assistance. Mrs.McKechnie in her Book (see P.259-60) records other handbills and states that the Gallery only had two artists i.e. Percival & Lowe by the late 1820's. As well as silhouettes, the Gallery also offered portrait miniatures and portraits on canvas. The Gallery closed down in 1830 - Mrs. McKechnie wonders why this happened. It is possible that competition from Mr. Edouart proved too much or more likely that one of the main artists Mr. Lowe decided to go it alone.

Above I have illustrated a silhouette that could be by the Percival Gallery - even Mr. Lowe himself. It is a cut-out with bronzed highlights. The base colour is black and there is some painting on the hair & jacket outside the main body. The collar is cut-out using the colour of the card on which the silhouette is pasted. He has a long sweeping eyelash and no gum arabic has been used. He is housed in a papier mache frame with a small printed label stating "John Wheat Oct.1825 aged 26".

MR. LOWE CONT’D

Label stating " John Wheat Oct.1825 aged 26".He was bought in a lot with his wife? who was by Mr. Lowe. Mrs. McKechnie was not sure if the Percival Gallery used bronze highlights but thought it was possible. His date is right for the Gallery - but I am afraid that we will not be able to attribute him with any certainty unless someone comes across a similar work with a label.

Below is the silhouette of Mary Wheat by Mr.Lowe. Mrs.McKechnie only illustrates one silhouette by Mr.Lowe (see illus.526 P.330) - it is a cut-out highlighted in the style of Mr. Gillespie i.e. detail painted in gum arabic against a dark grey base colour. His work was clearly not as skilled as that of Mr. Gillespie. This silhouette is inscribed on the back as being by Mr. Lowe and dated 1831. Mary Wheat is not painted in this style in any way. It is a cut-out but the base colour is black. There is a lot of painting outside the main body, which include parts of her bonnet and it's ties. Gold paint has been used for details of her bonnet and dress - to show her necklace and curls. The painting is quite nicely done on the whole. Çum arabic has been used extensively on the bonnet, below the necklace, at the front of the head and to show the demarcation of her sleeve. The gum arabic appears to have been mixed with a greyish silver colour - which gives the work a greyish wash in parts - this is quite attractive. Her eyelash is rather short. She is almost three quarters in length and the bust-line is not distinctive. She is housed in a papier mache frame with an acorn hanger. On the back of the actual silhouette is a little oblong printed label size 1¼” by ½” .0n it is written "Taken by Mr.Lowe MDCCXXXl. Mary Wheat aged 25." I have drawn this below as I was not able to photograph it.

It has not been possible to confirm Mr. Lowe’s initial. We have no studio address for him – so no further research is possible at this stage. A.T. Lowe is recorded by Daphne Foskett. She gives no details of his work but states that he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1845. Whether he is the same artist as our Mr. Lowe I do not know, but it is possible as the Percival Gallery offered portrait miniatures. ‘Finding’ this silhouette by Mr. Lowe has not helped greatly in identifying his work – as the two known works by him are so different in style. Do let me know if any of you have a labelled work by Mr. Lowe. It will probably mean opening up at the back to find the label.

MARY WHEAT

Aged 25 years

(Taken by Mr.Lowe)

MDCCCXXX1