Veiled Headdress

This engaging profile was painted by John Miers during the late 1780s prior to his move to London. It was in 1781 that he established his first studio as a profilist in his home town of Leeds. He soon took to the road to seek fresh clientele in the northern cities of Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh, constantly refining his skill as evidenced by this fine example that shows a young lady wearing a décolleté dress, her long curls topped with an elegant veil secured with a ribbon bow.

Preferring as he did the simplicity and elegance of an unembellished profile, Miers painted on white plaster using a mixture of soot and beer. In this example he deliberately smudged the pigment on the headdress to create a soft smoky effect.

The silhouette is housed in the original pressed brass frame and is backed with an unbroken trade label (travelling label no. 8) promising ‘Perfect Likenesses’. Apart from light dust under the convex glass and a small area of discoloration to the plaster base by her forehead (really only visible upon close inspection or under magnification), the silhouette is in fine condition and will enhance any collection.