Field, John

Gender:

Male

Date and place of birth:

born 24.01.1772, Westminster, London

Date and place of death:

dec. 18.12.1848, 2 Strand, London. bur. 24.12.1848 Brompton Cemetery, London

Worked:

(fl) ca. 1794-1848

Known places of work:

111, 25, 11 and 2 Strand, London

Known techniques:

Painted on plaster, ivory & card

Known materials:

Plaster, ivory, card

Frames:

Papier mâché, oval turned fruitwood & jewellery settings, leather and shagreen travel cases

Signature:

Recorded

Introduction:

Spent exclusively in London, the career of JOHN FIELD (1772-1848) spanned 5 decades. Consequently his output was huge, with works consistently appearing on the market today. Probably best known for his meticulous, peerless bronze-highlighted likenesses, most collections contain at least one of his works, and to quote McKechnie, is considered "... one of the finest and most famous silhouette artists".

Born in London, Field married Mary née Harris (1774-1869) at St.Margarets, Westminster in May 1795. Mary gave birth to 4 children between 1796-1810. Their last child and only surviving son, Henry William (1810-82), became a silhouettist like his father and, though his work is often finely painted, it can suffer in comparison to his father's very high degree of precision.

John Field spent nearly 40 years at Miers' studio, though for reasons unknown in 1809 he worked independently from 25 Strand, and a printed trade label from that address states he was "Late 14 years sole profile painter for Mr.Miers of 111 Strand". As Field's 1809 Royal Academy exhibit is addressed from 25 Strand and former and subsequent entries were from Miers' Strand address, it appears that Field's initial independent venture lasted barely a year, and more importantly that he was Miers' sole profile painter from 1796.

When Miers died in June 1821, his will allowed an option for his 111 Strand business to become a partnership between son William Miers (1793-1863) a picture frame maker and seal engraver, and John Field. It appears the relationship was strained. A joint (William) MIERS & FIELD trade label only appeared, perhaps grudgingly on William Miers' part, in 1823 and by the end of 1829 the partnership was dissolved.

In 1830 Field and son Henry William (1810-1882) were working from 11 Strand. The trade label from this address offered miniature frames, jewellery and seal engraving crafted by Henry William and profiles painted by both men. By 1833, they'd moved on again to 2 Strand, adjacent to Northumberland House. Two printed trade labels are recorded from this address. By coincidence, 2 Strand (formerly 2 Charing Cross) was the family home of Henry George Vigne (1765-1788), a talented but rare profilist and miniature painter who died aged 23.

Field's printed trade labels from both 11 and 2 Strand record him "Profilist by appointment to their Majesties & H.R.H. the PRINCESS AUGUSTA" , namely William IV (1765-1837), Queen Adelaide (1792-1849) and Augusta (1768-1840), sixth child of George III. THE NEWS (London) 22nd May 1831 records the appointment was warranted and "...entered into the office of her Majesty's Treasurer" on 24th August 1830.

John Field continued to paint high-quality profiles into the 1840s. Son Henry William continued working from 2 Strand as a frame maker and seal engraver until the building was demolished in 1875. Aged 96, Field's wife Mary died at St. Martin's Almshouses, Bayham St., Camden Town, and was interred at Brompton Cemetery, 29th December 1868. John Field himself died at 2 Strand on 18th December 1848, and aged 76, was interred almost exactly 20 years earlier at Brompton Cemetery, 24th December 1848.

Revised 28 October 2022 (Brian Wellings)