Dillon, Charles Grills

Introduction:

Known in his lifetime as a skilful miniature painter and engraver who could produce profiles of particular likeness, Dillon is famous today for his profile of Navel Officer Robert Boye (1813). His work is notable because of his individual technique for eyelashes, which he skilfully cut from paper.

Residing and working mainly in Plymouth, it is thought that Dillon had a son who also produced silhouettes. A work with no inscription c 1844 of a male between the age of fifty and sixty has been ascribed to the younger Dillon. Details of Dillon’s wife and other possible children are not recorded. Dillon was known to have toured Cornwall during 1818. Evidence for his work in Plymouth comes from trade labels; he had several, addressed to 10, 40 and 52 St Aubyn Street, Plymouth.

Dillon painted in colour, using brown and yellow hues, detailed in gold paint and gum Arabic. Some of Dillon’s portraits were finished in pencil while others were cut by the artist and then bronzed. His work has been likened to that of Eldridge and Buncombe. Dillon’s bust line terminations showed a slope from back to front. His work was shown at the 13th exhibition of artwork at the Plymouth Athenaeum in 1833. Some engraved portraits after work by Dillon are now held at the British Museum.