McKechnie’s entry on Henry Hervé #1 speculated works dating from the 1830’s to the late 1840’s should be attributed to his “son” Henry Hervé #2. However extensive recent research has discovered this assumption to be wrong. Neither Henry Hervé’s sons nor any of his brother’s offspring were baptised with the given name Henry.
Henry Hervé (1783-1853) worked from 12 Cheapside, London for 4 decades, initially for William Farthing from ca. 1804, and then independently from late 1807 to at least 1847 when a last trade directory entry lists him a “miniature painter”.
Though it was known several other Hervés were silhouette artists and portrait miniaturists, their family connections were speculative and McKechnie’s assumptions in regards to these are, for the most part, incorrect.
In brief, recent research has ascertained artists Charles (1785-1866) and Francis Hervé (1787-1851) were Henry’s brothers and Charles Stanley Hervé (1809-1897) and Alfred Hervé (1812-1879) were two of Charles Hervé’s sons. Their revised biographies will appear in due course on PROFILES OF THE PAST.
Revised June 10 2022 (Brian Wellings)
Source: McKechnie (Author of, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860)
Hervé, Henry II (McKechnie Section 7)