Gardiner, William Nelson

Gender:
Male
Date and place of birth:
11 June 1766, Dublin, Ireland
Date and place of death:
8 May 1814
Worked:
(fl) 1785
Known places of work:
Dublin
Known techniques:
N/A
Known materials:
Paint
Frames:
N/A
Signature:
Not recorded

Introduction:

Not actually known as a profilist, William Nelson Gardiner is noted in the silhouette world for having worked as an artistic assistant to Abraham Jones and Mrs Beetham.

The main information we have about Gardiner comes is from a single article ‘Memoir of the late William Gardiner, Book Seller’ Gentlemen’s Magazine, vol. 84, pt 1, p.622. This article is based on letters left by Gardiner on his suicide in 1814. They tell us that he had an association with Mr Abraham Jones in London before working as an assistant for a short time, to Mrs Beetham in 1785. It is thought that Gardiner prepared the finger-printed bases on glass for Mrs Beetham to then paint her profiles on.

Additional research about William Nelson Gardiner:

Source: McKechnie (Author of, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860)

Gardiner, William Nelson (McKechnie Section 3)