Shady Gentleman

It was in mid-1791, the year of this profile, that John Miers moved from 168 Strand to a new studio at 111 Strand. He was to stay at this new address for the next thirty years, right up until his death in 1821. And it is here that his business thrived with everyone who was anyone sitting for him.

This silhouette shows a distinguished gentleman, facing right, wearing a buttoned-up coat, a frilled cravat and a wig with an exceptionally thin pigtail tied, as was the fashion, with a ribbon bow.

Preferring as he did the simplicity and elegance of an unembellished black profile, this ‘shade’ is painted on white plaster using a mixture of soot and beer to create a strong contrast. It is set in the original turned pearwood frame with a verre églomisé surround and is backed with the artist’s trade label no. 11 which is inscribed ‘October 1791’.