Beetham, Isabella, Mrs (McKechnie Section 1)

See Section Three for main entry

The cut silhouettes by this artist date from the early years of her career, and show sitters wearing the costume of the period c. 1779 until early 1785, when she extended her business into painted work and moved to 27 Fleet Street, London.

The work is cut with the characteristic bust-line finish which can also be recognized on her painted work. Frills and other details, outside the black body of the silhouette, were shown by clever slashing, as is shown by one of the magnified photographs at the end of this section.

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One of the examples illustrated is stuck to plaster. It is uncertain whether or not the plaster is original; the profile may at a later date have been removed from a damaged paper backing and stuck to plaster to preserve it.

Mrs Beetham's works are in oval ebonized wood frames, rather larger than those used by other artists of the early 1780s, such as Mrs Harrington. The illustrated silhouette of I. Thorney bears an unbroken label and is in its original frame.

It is unlikely that any cut work of the artist can be dated to after 1785; silhouettes of men show cravats with no bow, and those of women show headdresses and hair styles typical of the early 1780s, as described in Chapter Six.

Only Trade Labels Nos 1, 2 and 3 will be seen on Mrs Beetham's cut work.

Ills. 291-294, 634