Watkins, J. (SCC Newsletter December 2003)

AN UNCOMMON AND UNPRETENTIOUS

SILHOUETTE ARTIST.

We know virtually nothing about Mr. Watkins background - even the initial of his first name is uncertain. It is known that he worked in Windsor & Bath - two centres where other silhouettists were working at the time. However it is likely that he was an itinerant artist - it is recorded that the members of the Brooking Family (illustrated in Mrs. Jackson's "History") were painted in Devon and the Morgan Family (some members illustrated in Mrs. K's Book) were painted possibly in Wales. His works do not turn up in salerooms very often - so it is unlikely that he was very prolific. He developed his own style, which varied a little with different sitters. Also, he painted members of the Royal Family in the style of other artists - no doubt for commercial purposes! The rest of this article will look at examples of his work with illustrations and I hope by the end you will want to add a work by Watkins to your collection! In Mrs. K's Book there is only one entry on the artist - that is in section 2 for artists painting on paper & card (pages 447 -448). Mrs. Jackson records Watkin (without the 's') as a 'cutter', but Mrs. McK. did not buy this after much research.

Firstly to look at works that are painted in the Watkins' style. Faces are always painted in dead black - clothing & hair are painted in a thinned black pigment. Clothing detail and texture of hair are shown with care. Overall the works have a greyish appearance. Sometimes his brush strokes on clothing can be somewhat coarse, but this does not seem to detract from the general effect. On at least one known example he used a pencil to give a silvery effect to a sitter's necklace. He did not use gum arabic or colour for highlights. His bust-line terminations vary - some can be almost straight & others concave. Frequently he put a shadow-line beneath with a signature in this. The signatures varied - often "Watkins fecit", "Watkins fecit/Bath” or "By Watkins". The size of his works vary but are generally smaller than most other artists of the period - i.e. 1½" to 2½" in height. I think it is unlikely that framed his silhouettes, but these are usually 'found' in rectangular papier mache frames - although over the years I have found two examples squashed in very tiny papier mache frames with round apertures. Below I photocopied three works. The gent on the left is Nicholas Brooking (illus. Mrs. McK. p. 506 illus. 949) He is signed "By Watkins". His frame is 3" x 2½". His style is not typical for Watkins. The small unknown lady in the middle was sold at Bonhams on 19, 2, 98. Finally the lady on the right is an unknown from Tenbury signed "By Watkins Bath". She is 2¾" X 2½" and is illustrated in Mrs. Mc on p. 507 illus. 953. She is painted in the style associated with Watkins.

WATKINS – CONT’D.

Above are two photographs of the daughter of Mary, Lady Morgan - she is ex. Mrs. McKechnie's Collection . She is illustrated in Mrs. McK's Book on p. 507 illus. 951. She was sold with her brother (illus. overleaf) at Mrs. McK's Collection Sale on 30th. July, 1979. They were lot 180 and they made £100 on the hammer! Good value!

The photo on the left is larger than life-size to show detail of painting - she is in fact 2¾" + X 2½". She is signed "Watkins fecit" plus some scrolls. The photo on the right shows her somewhat smaller than life-size. As you will see she is almost three-quarters in length - which is quite usual for Watkins. Note her clothing detail and the 'treatment' of her hair. As mentioned earlier her necklace has been highlighted with pencil. Her bust-line termination is very gently sloping.

There was another silhouette attributed to Watkins at Mrs. McKechnie's sale (lot 179) but I am not sure that this was by Watkins! She is illustrated in Mrs. McK's Book on p. 148 illus. 200 in the costume section. She looks more like a work by Hinton Gibbs - difficult to tell without actual examination in the 'flesh' - and I know Mrs. McKechnie was rarely mistaken. If she is by Watkins it is not in the style associated with him!

WATKINS – CONT’D.

On this page I have photographed on the left the son of Mary, Lady Morgan. He has been removed from his papier mache frame and reproduced larger than life to show painting detail. He is painted to 'match ' his sister, but somehow looks much less confident! He is signed under the bust-line in the same way and is also illustrated in Mrs. McK's Book on p. 507 illus. 951.

On the right is a photograph of a rather distressed and scruffy lady - but nevertheless attired in a fashionable turban! I came across her in Tetbury in a most unlikely antique shop - she was thrown in with another more desirable silhouette! She was squashed into a too small frame that was falling to pieces and to which she will not return! I am hoping that a paper restorer will be able to clean her up a little. I have attributed her to Watkins on stylistic grounds. She had no signature under the bust-line as she had been cut down to fit the unsuitable frame. She has been greatly enlarged to show details of her brush-work. She is in fact 2" in height. In regard to the size of Watkins work it is of interest that he painted the parents of the Morgan children larger than their off-spring, which I think has a certain charm about it.

WATKINS – CONT’D.

On this page I have photographed two men. The one on the left is of an unknown man and like the lady on the previous page he was housed in a frame that was far too small. The edges of the silhouette were turned under and partially torn - Watkins bust-line signature was not visible. As you will see he has been 'washed' and tidied-up. He now looks quite respectable and is awaiting a more suitable papier mache frame. The frame may be difficult to find as he is only 1½" + in height. He is well painted with good clothing detail - he has a fine upswept eyelash although the detail of his hair is a little cursory in my view. He is signed under the bust-line "By Watkins Bath".

The second man photographed on the right was sold at Sothebys some years ago and was described in the catalogue as being by "D. V. Watkins". In fact he was signed "By Watkins". Unfortunately the photo was taken from a photocopy so the detail is not as good as I had hoped. However, he has the added bonus of draped curtains, which is unusual for Watkins. I am inclined to think that these were not painted by the artist, but added at a later date when the 'sitter' was framed. I may be wrong!

As a further bonus I have illustrated a photocopy of Mrs. Nicholas Brooking c. 1804-1806. She is illustrated in both Mrs. Mck's Book (illus 950) as well as being in Mrs. Jackson's “History” published in 1911. Mrs. Jackson for some reason illustrated four members of the Brooking Family in the book.

WATKINS – CONT’D.

On this page are two photographs of members of the Royal Family. You will notice that both are painted in a more derivative style - not dissimilar to the work of W. Mason amongst others. On the left is the Duke of Clarence - later William IV. He is reproduced in black & white from an illustration in the Wellesley Collection book. I assume that he is gilded both on his hair and jacket. He was painted in the late 1820's and was sold at the Wellesley Collection Sale at Sothebys on 19th. June, 1917. He was sold with six others in the lot (lot 132) - all of different members of the Royal Family including one by Foster. The lot went for 3½ guineas - chance would be a fine thing! The Duke of York is on the right - he is owned by a member of the S.C.C. Again he has been photographed from a photo, which does not show the true colour of the gilding, which I understand is much more golden. He is signed under the bust-line, but this cannot be seen I am afraid. I think it would be difficult to attribute either of these silhouettes to Watkins without a signature. It is of interest that William IV was bought by Desmond Coke and is now in the Victoria & Albert Collection.

It is not certain for how long Watkins was in 'business'. Some works have been dated as early as the 1790's and as late as 1828. Nothing is certain although the Brooking & Morgan Families can be dated to about 1805-1808. I should be glad to know if any of you have works by Watkins, which are somewhat different from those I have illustrated. Mr. Arthur Mayne records that Watkins used colour - I have not seen any.