Pendant Silhouette

John Field worked alongside John Miers in his London studio from the 1790s until Miers’ death in 1821, at which time he entered into a short-lived partnership with Miers’ son. That business filed for bankruptcy though 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, plaster and, as here, on ivory. This profile shows a gentleman with side-whiskers wearing a double-breasted coat, waistcoat and stock. It is signed ‘Miers’ under the bust-line – the business was after all owned by Miers.

The silhouette is set in the original gold pendant frame that is glazed on the reverse to reveal brown plaited hair.