Wybrant, Patrick

Introduction:

Irish-born PATRICK WYBRANT (ca.1821-1894) is recorded a mid-19th century profilist working in the northeast of England. Painted on card, and not cut, as surmised by McKechnie, his silhouettes are extremely rare. However, a considerable body of signed, mostly dated full and half-length coloured profiles with sitters' faces delineated, are extant. Their quality is variable.

Wybrant's known body of work was painted between 1849-1859. How or where he generated income before then is unknown. Additionally, though 1851-1891 Census returns list him an "Artist", as far as known no work is recorded after 1859. The date has significance, as by then photography was becoming increasingly accessible to a mass market, while demand for painted portraiture rapidly diminished.

Like many mid-century profilists, Wybrant made a transition to photography. Curiously, the career change is only twice recorded in newsprint. In the LEEDS MERCURY of the 18th of July 1861, "Mr. Wybrant...[of]...Merchants Row, Scarboro...[applied for a]...PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATOR and a good, cheap, secondhand whole-plate Lens". More obliquely, the YORK HERALD of the 28th of January 1871, recorded "Patrick Wybrant Photographic Artist...[was charged with]...neglecting to have his children vaccinated". Without further information, the timespan of his photographic career remains unknown.

An absence of newspaper advertisements indicates Wybrant promoted his artistry using handbills. Luckily one, illustrated by McKechnie, survives and records his Scarborough-based profile offerings ca.1850.

Headed "WYBRANT'S LIKENESS GALLERY-Late of York...A strictly correct likeness can be relied on from Mr. Wybrant's...[his terms were]...A Splendid Bust in Gold Bronze 1s.6d; Whole-Length ditto 5s; Bust in Colours (beautifully correct) 2s.6d. to 7s 6d; Half Length 7s 6d or 10s 6d; Whole Length 10s 6d to 21s. Miniatures EXQUISITELY FINISHED FROM 10s 6d...Family Groups, Sporting Subjects, Dogs, Horses &c &c taken from life...SEE SPECIMENS". 

However, today virtually no silhouette 'specimens' are known, though one, recently sourced, portrays a young woman wearing a typical indoor cap of the period and a fringed shawl. Her body colour is dark grey, her hair bronzed. Her cap is painted Chinese white with light grey highlights. The shawl's pattern is indicated with cursory brushstrokes, as is its fringe, which falls below a shallow concave-convex bustline termination. Competently painted, the silhouette is signed 'WYBRANT ARTIST', as are all his known works.

Often described in U.S. and U.K. auction catalogues as a 'British/American' artist, commentators, though seemingly lacking definitive evidence, have suggested Wybrant worked in America for approximately 3 years from 1852. However, works from 1849 and 1854 have been recorded in auction rooms in both countries, which may arguably indicate that at some point in time his portraits, rather than the artist himself, crossed the Atlantic.

Regarding his personal circumstances, between June and October 1850 Wybrant appears in the Visitors' Lists of the SCARBOROUGH GAZETTE. His marriage, registered in Scarborough, took place in the first quarter of 1851. The Census of that year records his wife as Mary Jane (ca.1833-1885) born north of Scarborough at Robin Hood's Bay. Both Mary Jane and Patrick Wybrant are listed "Artists". Between 1851 and ca.1869 Mary Jane gave birth to 2 daughters and 2 sons. The death of their eldest child, Annie, is registered in Scarborough in the last quarter of 1864.

Wybrant's sole directory entry "Patrick Wybrant Artist...[of]...Chariot St." appears in the 1857 Hull POST OFFICE DIRECTORY, and a small number of Wybrant's coloured full-length profiles are held in the collection of the town's museum.

The 1861 Census locates the Wybrant family in Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, while the 1871-1881 Census records them in Scarborough. The death of Wybrant's wife, aged 52, is registered in Scarborough in the 3rd quarter of 1885. The 1891 Census of Wetherby, Yorks, lists Wybrant a "Retired Artist", aged 70, living with his daughter Mary (ca.1869-1940) and her husband, railway signalman George Crow.

Leaving effects of £18,600 in 2024 terms to daughter Mary, Patrick Wybrant died at Gracious St., Knaresborough, Yorks., on the 5th of December 1894. His place of interment is unknown.

Revised 13 April 2024 (Brian Wellings)