Neville, J.

Introduction:

A competent itinerant profilist, J. NEVILLE (dec. after 1842) painted exclusively on card. Few profiles are extant; all are bust sized; all are confidently painted; all are highlighted. Information written on one of 2 known printed trade labels indicates he was working at the latest by 1819 and newspapers record him still active in 1842. Newsprint also enigmatically describes him a "...Foreigner...". To date however, his personal circumstances and even his given name remain unknown.

Neville's possibly initial trade label locates him in Hastings "...where he intends taking CORRECT PROFILE LIKENESSES in Black, Bronze and Colours from ONE SHILLING to one Guinea; and for correctness not to be equalled by any in the Kingdom". On the trade label a contemporary hand records the female sitter died in 1819. Her stylish attire is painted bluish-grey, with carefully applied Chinese white highlights. The maximum charge of 1 Guinea seemingly indicates full-length and possibly conversation pieces were on offer, though none have come to light.

Neville's other printed trade label places him in Ipswich. The work itself, illustrated in McKechnie's BRITISH SILHOUETTE ARTISTS and their WORK 1760-1860, is of an elderly female in everyday attire which made dating the label problematic. However, a recently discovered unlabelled profile of a named fashionably dressed younger female of the Ipswich area, painted in the manner of Neville's Hastings sitter, suggests both trade labels were printed ca. 1815-1820. The trade label states "...a correct LIKENESS...Elegantly finished...[could be had]... for Two Shillings and Sixpence...". Whether Neville offered more than bust sized profiles for the price is unlikely.

Two signed profiles, both differing in execution, show Neville operating in Brighton during the 1820s; however an absence of recorded advertising makes an impossibility of gauging the time he spent there.

The first profile, a female sitter painted in Neville's signature palette of a blue-grey ground with Chinese white detail, is inscribed on the reverse "Taken by J. Neville, 4 Pool Lane, Brighton", an address also used ca. 1827-1828 by profilist George Crowhurst (1795-1839). Addressed and dated 4th March 1827, the second work, a male sitter, was taken at the "Royal Profile Rooms, Brighton", which may be one and the same as 4 Pool Lane.

Previously misattributed, the sitter is John Stuart Wortley (1801-1855), later 2nd Baron Wharncliffe. Comparison of an 1840s Hill and Adamson calotype image of Wortley with Neville's profile shows the latter work to be a faithful representation of the sitter. As far as known, the work is a unique example of Neville's neat bronze highlighting and his sole known male sitter. It also appears to be his last recorded profile, though he is now known to have continued working for a further 15 years.

An October 1828 issue of ARIS' BIRMINGHAM GAZETTE places Neville there with the Percival 'Gallery' where an "Exact Likeness, frame and glass included for ONE SHILLING...[were offered by]...Mr. PERCIVAL with Mr. NEVILLE and able assistants". The Percival 'Gallery' was a loose collective of artists touring England, Scotland and Ireland 1824-1831. Neville's association with it appears brief. His name is absent from further Percival advertisements and his working history for the next 12 years remains untraced.

Between December 1840 and November 1842, Neville reappears in advertisements and correspondence columns of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

On the 5th of January 1841, the newspaper relates "Mr. Neville the profilist has commenced business in Lord Street. We believe he possesses much talent...". On the 30th of March it prints "...profiles by Mr. Neville the Artist...are cleverly done...[and are]...the best likenesses of the...[unnamed]...parties we ever saw. Mr. Neville had the honour of 'taking off' her Majesty the Queen and the Duchess of Kent a few years ago...".

The same day Neville advertises himself "...the celebrated profilist...[and]...the FOREIGNER that was patronised by the Royal Family and Nobility in Brighton for his superior talent in delineating the face and figure of the Ladies".

On the 29th of March the following year, Neville describes himself "...the Profilist now in Liverpool...where CORRECT LIKENESSES may be had in his elegant style from One Shilling upwards...[in]...plain Black, Bronze and Colours, either Bust or Whole Length". On the 22nd of April, "Members of a Society...[held at the Tarleton Street public house of victualler Hannah Vicars (1801-1887)]...appointed Mr. Neville to take their likenesses. Many are already done, and when complete, will be the most unique exhibition in the Kingdom". The work or works are unrecorded, as are any black or whole-length profiles.

Neville's final record appears on the 15th of November 1842. Headed "STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC!...[it continues]...All who wish...superior PROFILE LIKENESSES...apply to MR. NEVILLE'S ESTABLISHMENT in Lord Street...as he will leave Liverpool very shortly".

Where Neville removed to is unknown, and seemingly having eluded consecutive Census enumerators, the foreign shore Neville hailed from will also remain undiscovered.

Revised 6 April 2024 (Brian Wellings)

 

 

Gallery Silhouettes