Whittle, E.

Gender:

Male

Date and place of birth:

bapt. 29.01.1805. Babcary, Somerset

Date and place of death:

dec. 11.01.1871. 40 Fitzroy Road, Regent's Park, London. bur. 19.01.1871.City of London Cemetery, Manor Park, London

Worked:

(fl) ca. 1831-presumed ca. 1850

Known places of work:

Itinerant, Huntingdon, presumed Peterborough, Cambridge, Luton

Known techniques:

Cut-work

Known materials:

Paper and card

Frames:

Papier-mâché & maplewood

Signature:

Stencil stamp

Introduction:

Though working as an itinerant silhouettist for 2 decades, suprisingly little information has come to light regarding the career of Somerset-born ELIAS WHITTLE (1805-1871). However, enough of his exclusively cut-work profiles are recorded to evidence a generally competent hand.

Producing plain black and bronzed bust-sized, half, full-length and conversation pieces between ca.1831- ca.1850, the quality of Whittle's gilding on bust-sized work is notably variable, with the detailing of female sitters' attire, especially headwear, being well-rendered, while the bronzing applied to profiles of men and some children can be, at best, cursory. Recorded bust-line terminations are almost horizontal or cut with a slightly concave dip. Full-length studies, or his very rare conversation pieces are crisply cut, well presented and exhibit skillful bronzing.

Four stencil stamp trade labels are known. All are briefly worded. Two, one with 'Gothic' lettering, read 'Mr. E. WHITTLE. ARTIST'. The third reads ' CUT WITH SCISSORS by E. WHITTLE', as does the fourth, which in addition bears the date '1832'.

Whittle seemingly never advertised in newsprint, and with handbills unrecorded, his terms remain unknown. That he was based in London from at least 1834 until his death, is now ascertained, though his itinerant journeyings remain by and large opaque and a columnist's report in the 'HUNTS, BEDFORD and PETERBOROUGH GAZETTE' 8th October 1831 is the sole description of his career. The issue reported 'For the last few weeks Mr. E. Whittle the profilist resident in the town...[Huntingdon]...has taken a great number of likenesses...with the most astonishing rapidity and accuracy...he has had considerable practice on the Continent, and was patronised by the present King of the French...[Louis-Philippe]...who sat for his profile; as have branches of his family. We have seen several specimens of the nobility and gentry, which are well executed. Amongst the...portraits is that of our Worshipful Mayor in full robes...We understand Mr.Whittle intends...[visiting]...Cambridge, Peterborough, and other towns in the neighourhood..'

First recorded a profilist in England in 1831 at the somewhat advanced age of 26, it's possble, but unprovable, as Whittle himself stated, that he already '...had considerable practice on the Continent'. Certainly he visited Europe, his first offspring being born in Brussels in 1838, though whether his scissors travelled with him then is unknown.

To be continued