Whittle, E.

Introduction:

Though working as an itinerant silhouettist for almost 2 decades, suprisingly little information has come to light regarding the career of Somerset-born ELIAS WHITTLE (1805-1871). However, enough of his exclusively cut-work profiles are recorded to evidence a generally competent hand. Surprisingly, at some point in the 1850s, he also became Superintendent of the large, highly successful Thames Plate Glass Company in London's East End.

Producing plain black and bronzed bust-sized, half, full-length and conversation pieces between ca.1831- ca.1847, the quality of Whittle's gilding on bust-sized work is notably variable, with the detailing of female sitters' attire, especially headwear, being well-rendered, while the bronzing applied to profiles of men and some children can be, at best, cursory. Recorded bust-line terminations are almost horizontal or cut with a slightly concave dip. Full-length studies, or his very rare conversation pieces are crisply cut, well presented and exhibit skillful bronzing.

Four stencil stamp trade labels are known. All are briefly worded. Two, one with 'Gothic' lettering, read 'Mr. E. WHITTLE. ARTIST'. The third reads ' CUT WITH SCISSORS by E. WHITTLE', as does the fourth, which in addition bears the date '1832'. All of which surely indicated the expectation of a reasonable flow of custom.

Whittle seemingly never advertised in newsprint, and with handbills unrecorded, his terms remain unknown. That he was based in London from at least 1834 until his death, is now ascertained, though his itinerant journeyings remain by and large opaque and a columnist's report in the 'HUNTS, BEDFORD and PETERBOROUGH GAZETTE' 8th October 1831 is the sole description of his career. The issue reported 'For the last few weeks Mr. E. Whittle the profilist resident in the town...[Huntingdon]...has taken a great number of likenesses...with the most astonishing rapidity and accuracy...he has had considerable practice on the Continent, and was patronised by the present King of the French...[Louis-Philippe]...who sat for his profile; as have branches of his family. We have seen several specimens of the nobility and gentry, which are well executed. Amongst the...portraits is that of our Worshipful Mayor in full robes...We understand Mr.Whittle intends...[visiting]...Cambridge, Peterborough, and other towns in the neighourhood..'

First recorded a profilist in England in 1831 at the somewhat advanced age of 26, it's possible, but unprovable, whether Whittle already '...had considerable practice on the Continent'. Certainly he visited Europe, his first offspring being born in Brussels in 1838, though whether his scissors also travelled with him is unknown. Commentators have suggested he also visited the United States; however no evidence was found, and it's probable the single work recorded there crossed the Atlantic, rather than the artist himself.

McKechnie recorded at least one undated profile taken in London, and a family group of silhouettes taken at Duns, Berwickshire. Now known to have been active in Cambridgeshire in 1831, it's probable that members of the Brown family, Quakers of Luton, Bedfordshire (see Gallery Silhouettes below) were cut there in 1832. In 1834 'E. Whittle of London' exhibited at the New Watercolour Society exhibition in London's Old Bond Street. Recently recorded, framed in maplewood and dated 1843, is what appears to be the equivalent of a 'pattern book', its 16 full-length figures of men, women and children would have allowed clients at Whittle's various temporary studios to pick a pose and assess his abilities. His last recorded work is signed and dated 1847.

Whittle appears twice again in newsprint. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD 11th July 1834 reported that arriving from London by coach, his travelling companion stole 5 sovereigns from Whittle's purse when the men shared a room during their first night in the town. The thief's light fingers earned him 12 months' hard labour. Twenty three years later, THE MORNING POST 5th August 1857 revealed Elias Whittle '...Superintendent of the Thames Plate Glass Company...' of Poplar, appeared before magistrates as witness against a 13-year-old employee's attempt to sabotage machinery. When the company declined to press charges the boy was, with a caution, released. How or when Whittle himself first became connected to the glass trade is a conundrum likely to remain unresolved. 

Regarding his domestic life, the son of William and Ann (dates n/k), he was baptised 29th January 1805 in the small village of Babcary, Somerset. William Whittle's occupation is unknown, but 1798 Land Tax returns list him a householder, and the surname was commonplace to the village from at least the late c17th onward.

In February 1837, Elias Whittle 'of Lambeth, London' wed 22-year-old Lavinia Winter Hill (1815-1868), in Wiveliscombe, Somerset. She was the daughter of a deceased Apothecary-Surgeon of  the town. Between 1838-1859 she bore 3 sons and one daughter. Sequentially the offspring were Elias Charles Cooper Whittle (1838 - 1891) born in Brussels, Belgium, and baptised in 1840 in Wiveliscombe. Becoming a London-based chemist and dentist, and marrying in 1865, he listed his father's occupation when he wed as 'Artist' . Walter Whittle (1840-1859), born in Wiveliscombe but baptised at Lambeth in November 1840, died in Poplar, aged 19 in 1859. Laura Lavinia Whittle baptised at Walworth, Surrey in May 1843, wed  a draper in 1872 and divorced in 1888 due to his 'cruelty and adultery' . Never remarrying, she died in London in 1929. Alfred Edward Whittle (1858 - 1865) was born in Poplar and died there, at the family abode, in November 1865, aged 7.

Edward Whittle's recorded abodes were all in London. In 1840-1841, registered as a 'Gentleman', he took out Royal Sun Alliance insurance policies on 49 Walcot Square, Lambeth. The 1851 Census records the family at another Lambeth address, while the 1861 Census locates them at 2 Kedgeree Place, East-India-Road, Poplar, doubtless chosen for its proximity to the plate glass manufactory. 1841-1861 Census returns list him respectively 'Independent', 'Proprietor of Houses', and 'Gentleman'.

Aged 53, Whittle's wife Lavinia died at their home on Christmas Day 1868 and was buried on New Year's Day 1869. Whittle himself died 2 years later 11th January 1871 at 40 Fitzroy Road, Regents Park, the abode of his daughter. His will records effects worth approximately £200,000 in 2026 terms.

Aged 66, Elias Whittle was interred 19th January 1871 in the family plot at Tower Hamlets Cemetery, Bow, London.

REVISED: 21 March 2026 (Brian Wellings)

 

 

Gallery Silhouettes