Hoop Earrings

John Field worked alongside John Miers in his London studio from the 1790s until Miers’ death in 1821, at which time he entered into partnership with Miers’ son, William. They expanded the business to include a jewellery shop but the venture was short-lived as they filed for bankruptcy in 1829.

Whereas John Miers specialised in painting silhouettes without the use of embellishment, John Field was a master of gilding producing finely detailed work on paper, ivory and, as here, on plaster. This elegant profile shows a young Regency lady in an empire-line dress. She has gold hoop earrings and her hair has been upswept and secured with a comb with little curls escaping at the front.

The silhouette has a slight tide mark at the top edge though this is mostly covered by the frame. It is set in the original papier-mâché frame made by William Miers with his distinctive decorative surround. The frame has a craquelure pattern and is backed with the artist’s trade label (no. 12) which, although broken, remains more or less complete.