Smith, Edward, Mrs

Introduction:

Mrs Edward Smith was an accomplished profilist who, for a time, shared a studio with the well-known artist Joshua Trewinnard. Although not amongst the major silhouette artists, she appears to have had a very distinctive style; her attributed works are notable for the fine gold embellishment on hair and clothing.

Little is known about Mrs Smith’s life. From 1826-1830 she seems to have worked out of a studio at 40 The Strand, London, which she shared with Trewinnard. Smith may have continued to work on her own at the same address until 1837. One known trade label (on a silhouette dated 1836) states: `Mrs. Smyth /Miniature Painter & Profilist/40 Strand, two doors from Buckingham Street.'

Silhouettes attributable to Smith are typically of the bronzed type. She used fine gold pencilling to render the elaborate hairstyles fashionable amongst women of the period. One silhouette, mentioned by Jackson, was painted in tones of grey, but no example of this style is currently known. Also characteristic of Smith’s profiles are the long eyelashes with which she endowed her female sitters, and a smooth, curved bust-line finish. She seems not to have used a distinctive frame.