Dimmock, John (McKechnie Section 2)

See also Section Seven

Included in this Section on account of two silhouettes painted on card. One is owned by Mrs Peggy Hickman, who has established that Dimmock was listed in street directories as at Melville Place, Trongate, Glasgow, for the years 1808-11 inclusive. Since the other example (in my collection) is dated 14 July 1808 and bears a trade label inscribed it is certain that by this date Dimmock was established at this address. (A third silhouette is discussed in Section Seven.)

Dimmock's work shows very fine brushwork control. Particularly minute and fine parallel strokes are shown on the painting of the man's shirt-frill on the example in my collection, the style being rather similar to that of William Alport (q.v.), although the execution is finer. The cravat and waistcoat collar are rendered with almost photographic clarity. Hair beyond the main outline of the profile is shown with a coarser brush, but with equal care.

The shape of the bust-line in front is long and drooping, like that on some examples by George Bruce (see Section Four), whose work on plaster Dimmock may have seen. A 'shadow line' is shown at the rear concavity of the bust-line, here can be seen the minute initials 'IDF' (meaning, presumably, 'J. Dimmock fecit'). This line is neatly finished at the sides and beneath with more tiny lines. This silhouette is framed in a black frame of Pontypool enamel (with thick brass acorn ring), shaped exactly like the papier mâché frame of the time.

Mrs Hickman's example differs slightly, and was apparently taken a year or two later. The most important point is that the profile, also of a man, is placed against a red background. This example does not show the initialling, or the 'shadow line' beneath the bust.

As each of these two examples bears a different trade label, Dimmock probably produced many more silhouettes. Trade Label No. 1 (on the example in my collection) reads:

PROFILE SHADES

in three Minutes

by

DIMMOCK

Glasgow.

Trade Label No. 2, on the other silhouette discussed in this entry, reads:

J. DIMMOCK

PROFILE-PAINTER

Melville Place,

132, Trongate,

GLASGOW.

Ill. 737