Miers Lady in Gold Frame

Head and shoulders profile of a lady signed under the bust-line and set in a gold frame with a surround of plaited hair with foil-backed blue glass on the reverse.

Although he never trained professionally, John Miers (1758-1821) is considered to be the finest of the eighteenth century profilists. His career began in Leeds when he took over his father’s business as a coach-painter and gilder. Having recently married, Miers was keen to expand the business and, in addition to preparing and selling paints, he advertised profile shades in miniature for 2s. 6d. each. He clearly excelled at this from the start as within a few years this had become his main line of business and prompted Miers to move his family first to Edinburgh and eventually to London where he ran a busy and successful studio at the Strand.