West, John

Introduction:

John West is known as a miniature painter and drawing master of the late 18th and early 19th century. However, there are documented silhouettes which are simply signed “West” which have been attributed to this John West. The identification of West the profilist with John West, the miniaturist, is strengthened by the offer in advertisements of both portrait miniatures and profiles in colour.

There is little information available about John West, and it is only through advertisements in local newspapers that we can glean details about his career as a silhouette artist as well as a miniature painter. For example Jackson quotes an advertisement in a Derby newspaper c 1811: “Profiles taken correctly in one minute by means of his portable machine....Profiles on card, in black 5s, in colour 10s. 6d; on wood, in colours.” John West is known to have lived in Bath where he is listed as 'miniature painter' in the Bath Guide for 1800, 1801, 1803, 1806, 1807 and 1810, but he is thought to have travelled. He described himself in advertisements as “from London” and issued advertisements in local newspapers across the country.

Two examples of silhouettes signed `West, 1789' were sold in 1948 by Blairman of London. These were described in the catalogue of the sale as 'a rare pair of portraits of a man in uniform and a lady by West, with black profiles, coloured hair and clothing, fully signed "West, 1789" in black frames’. Unfortunately today, there are no known examples of silhouettes definitely produced by West.