Thomas, R. (SCC Newsletter June 1994)

Mr. J. THOMAS. C. 1846.

The silhouette photographed above is a cut-out of a largish size – i.e. 3½” + from top of the head to point at front of the bust-line and 2¼" + at its widest point. It is stuck on a thickish piece of card - with a stencil on the back, which I have photostated. This reads - "Mr. J. Thomas Artist, 24, Winchcomb Street, Cheltenham”.

The base colour is black and details of hair, ear, buttons, button-holes, lapel, shoulder-line and back-line have been shown with gold paint. The painting is quite skilfully done and difficult to do justice to in the photograph. The head is not cut separately - so the white stock with shading is painted over the base colour. Hair outside the body is painted with water colour. No eyelash is shown but there is an eyebrow! It is signed at the back of the bust-line "Thomas 1846." (Thomas has a line under as I have shown.)

I have also come across a plain black example of Mr. Thomas' work – which I have also photostated. It is completely plain without an eyelash and with the same wide bust-line as the photographed example. "Thomas 1847" in handwriting is on the back of the card.

A Mr. R. Thomas is recorded by Mrs. McKechnie on page 276, but I have come to the conclusion that this is a different Mr. Thomas. I have written to Cheltenham Archives Department in case they have any further knowledge of Mr. Thomas. I will report in a further Newsletter if any information of interest comes from the enquiry. It is possible that he was an itinerant artist and Cheltenham was only one of his "ports of call."

Please let me know if any of you have examples by Mr. Thomas - as there must be other examples of his work around.