Jones, Abraham

Introduction:

In advertisements this profilist referred to himself simply as Mr. Jones, and it is only recent research that has established his first name as Abraham. In one advertisement in the Northampton Mercury 1782 he describes himself as an “artist and drawing master from the Royal Academy, London”. Jones also often advertised for sale his mechanical devices for producing silhouettes, such as reflecting mirrors and optical instruments.

Most of the information about Abraham Jones comes from advertisements in local newspapers, as opposed to existent profiles. It is through these that we know he worked in Bath, London, Norwich, Northampton and Manchester. Jones advertised his work in 1788 as “Likenesses taken in miniature profile, painted on glass, in a style of superior excellence, at 5s. each, with an elegant gilt frame included.”. He also advertised his drawing work in crayon and his tutor services for painting on silk, satin and glass. Until recently, no identified work by Jones was known, but an illustrated profile of Mrs. Milbank on very convex glass, bearing his stencil on the back, used at 331 Strand, London c 1788 has recently come to light.

According to an article published in the ‘Gentleman’s Magazine’ c 1779, Jones was using brass foil to cut profiles early in his career. An advertisement c 1783 offered glass profiles at 5s, suggesting that earlier advertisements offering “profiles taken with all drapery shades at 2s 6d” were on paper. In the only work definitely attributed to Jones, the profile of Mrs. Milbank, the ribbon and curls of her hair are achieved by scratching out the pigment with a needle. The bust-line termination is an almost straight finish to the sitter’s waist.

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