The Fringed Shawl

Towards the end of John Field’s long and successful career as a silhouette artist, he painted more often on card as opposed to plaster. As seen in this example of a mature lady in a frill-edged Babet cap, frilled collar and fringed shawl, his eye for detail had certainly not diminished.

Painted using watercolour on card with transparent detailing and gold highlights, the profile is faintly signed ‘Field 2 Strand’ under the bust-line.

The card has age-darkening. The silhouette is set in what appears to be the original papier-mâché frame with a decorative leaf hanger.