Risso, John 'Signior'

Gender:
Male
Date and place of birth:
N/K, presumed Italy
Date and place of death:
Unknown
Worked:
(fl) 1776-1778
Known places of work:
Leeds, Derby, York, Chesterfield, Newcastle, Sunderland, Edinburgh
Known techniques:
Presumed cut-work or painted on paper and card
Known materials:
Paper and card
Frames:
Unknown, presumed oval turned wood
Signature:
Unrecorded

Introduction:

Italian silhouette artist Signior Risso visited and advertised throughout northern English towns during the late 1770s. Risso offered his services as a miniature profilist, who could portray his sitter’s hairstyle in a manner of their choosing. For half a crown he would produce a miniature profile of the sitter in three minutes. For five shillings they could be framed and glassed. Jackson in her ‘Dictionary’ tells us that she had seen no examples of Risso’s work, nor had any come to light at that time.

Additional research about John 'Signior' Risso:

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

Risso, John 'Signior' (McKechnie Section 2)