Hervé, Henry I (McKechnie Section 1)

See also Sections Two, Three, Four, Five and Six

Recorded as 'Henve' by Jackson (The History of Silhouettes). For an account of the Hervé family and its relationships see Appendix Three.

There is no record of the death of this artist in the Somerset House records between 1837 and 1890 and the date of his birth remains unknown. If his death took place in Britain, it must have occurred before 1837.

It is difficult to establish what was Henry Hervé's relationship with Alfred and Charles Hervé. He seems to have been more closely associated with Francis Hervé II, who (according to directories) was apparently living at 12 Cheapside, London, at the same time as Henry Hervé II. He may have been a brother or a cousin of Francis. To add to these complications, in 1816 Henry Hervé exhibited at the Academy from 21 Paradise Place, Stockwell, an address which was later occupied for many years by Charles Hervé II.

Henry Hervé probably first worked in the field of silhouettes when in the employment of William Farthing (q.v., Section Three, where the work which he may have done for Farthing is discussed) soon after 1800. The profilist employed by Farthing is described on a trade label of the latter's as 'an Artist, whose talents are acknowledged to be of high rank in the profession'.

We know from the Poor Rate Books that Henry Hervé became the ratepayer of 12 Cheapside at Christmas 1807. On the first of his trade labels he refers to himself as 'Successor to Mr Farthing'. He seems at the same time to have acquired the device known as 'Hawkins' Patent Machine', probably the model which he had used while working for Farthing (q.v. for an account of the machine). With this machine Hervé produced a large number of silhouettes which, to judge by their appearance, were cut or painted between 1807 and c. 1820. He was at the same time working as a painter of portrait miniatures, and between 1813 and 1816 exhibited the following at the Royal Academy:

1813 No. 524 Miss Metcalfe

No. 548 Portrait of a gentleman

No. 554 Portrait of a lady

1814 No. 404 Portrait of a gentleman

No. 535 Portrait of Mr P. Hervé [see Peter Hervé, in the Appendix, 'The Hervé Family']

No. 657 Portrait of Mrs S. Lander

1816 No. 584 Portrait of W. Chapman

No. 637 Portrait of J. Kiddlewhite

No. 752 Portrait of Miss C. Ward

All these exhibits except the last were sent in from 12 Cheapside. The last was sent in from 21 Paradise Place. One more Royal Academy exhibit is noted under the name of Henry Hervé: No. 721, Portrait of Admiral Ross (1843). I think, however, that this much later picture was painted by Henry Hervé II (see Section Six), probably the son of Henry Hervé I. There are many directory references to Hervé; these follow:

Hervé, Henry, Artist, 12 Cheapside (several directories, annually 1810-22)

Hervé, Henry, Miniature Painter,

12 Cheapside (Kent directory, 1826)

Hervé, Henry, Miniature Painter,

12 Cheapside (Kent directory, 1828)

Hervé, Henry, Miniature Painter,

12 Cheapside (Robson's Directory, 1830)

Hervé, Henry, Miniature Painter,

12 Cheapside (Critchett's Directory, 1832)

Hervé, Henry, Miniature Painter,

42 Tottenham Street (Robson's Directory, 1833)

Hervé, Henry, 12 Cheapside (Critchett's Directory, 1834)

Hervé, Henry, 12 Cheapside (London Post Office Directory, 1835)

Hervé, Henry, 12 Cheapside (Kelly's Directory, 1837)

Hervé, Henry, 12 Cheapside (Kelly's Directory, 1838)

Since the date of the death of Henry Hervé I is unknown some of these entries may refer to Henry Hervé II. It is interesting that the numerous trade labels used by this artist are quite unlike the plain stencils used later by Alfred and Charles Hervé.

Hervé achieved a large output of hollow-cut profiles. The work is competently cut, resembling in general design the artist's work on glass. Careful ridging shows the line of the hair or the detail of a bow or frill. The black paper with which Hervé backed his hollow-cut images is rough-surfaced, and over the years dust has collected on many examples. He does not appear to have made any attempt to show an eye-lash on his hollow-cut profiles. It is almost impossible to attribute an unsigned or unlabelled hollow-cut profile of the period 1807-20 to a particular artist, but of the large number which date from these years many must be by Hervé. Two unlabelled examples, cut from blackened paper, resemble Hervé's known hollow-cut work. They are unframed, and stuck to rectangular pieces of card. The subjects of these silhouettes (in the Fox-Smith Collection) were Samuel Curtis and William Maddox.

Of Hervé's authenticated work, early examples were normally housed in small oval turned fruitwood frames. For his later work he used papier mache, sometimes without a brass oval and hanger. When attempting to identify a silhouette of the relevant period, one must bear in mind that Alfred, Charles and Henry Hervé all appear to have been gifted copyists. Six trade labels of Henry Hervé are known. On Trade Label No. 1 (used c. 1808) profiles are only briefly mentioned, no price is given for them, and Farthing (the previous occupant of 12 Cheapside) is mentioned:

457-461

HENRY HERVÉ

Successor to Mr. Farthing

Jeweller and Miniature Painter

No. 12, Cheapside.

Diamonds and Pearls bought or exchanged

Mourning Rings with Expedition

Profiles taken by Hawkins Patent Machine in
One Minute
Miniatures neatly mounted
Frames and Glasses of all Descriptions

Thiselton. Printers, Goodge Street, London.

There is an example of Hervé's Trade Label No. 2 on the reverse of a profile of a woman. painted on glass (?c. 1809-10), in the Christie collection. The reference to profiles on plaster of paris, glass and ivory is repeated on Trade Label No. 4. The text is as follows:

HENRY HERVÉ

MINIATURE &: PROFILE PAINTER
No. 12, CHEAPSIDE
Correct Likenesses in Profile taken by the Patent Machine
and cut out in paper at 2s. 6d. each

Completed in Five Minutes


MINIATURES PAINTED FROM ONE GUINEA

H. Hervé wishes the Public to understand that in sketching the Profiles, the Machine will make a complete . . . of any Feature of the Face, and in any View, by which means the Likeness is certain: and, for the further satisfaction of the Public, he pledges his word, that he will return the Money if the Likeness is not good. Profiles painted on Glass, Plaister of Paris, Ivory, &c., in a Superior Stile, and reduc'd to the sizes of Rings, Broaches, &c.

Profiles of all descriptions copied accurately.

NB. H. Hervé makes it a rule never to let any Person have the Profiles of any Gentleman or Lady, till he is satisfied the Party themselves have no objection.

On Trade Label No. 3 (used c. 1810) the number of Hervé's previous sitters (ten thousand) and a second address (23 New Bond Street, near Conduit Street) are given:

HENRY HERVÉ

Miniature Painter, Profilist
& JEWELLER
No. 12, Cheapside.
and at No. 23 New Bond Street, near Conduit Street

Correct Likenesses in Miniature taken by Hawkins' Patent Machine by which he has taken the Likenesses of upwards of 10,000 persons

Profiles taken and cut in paper at 2s. 6d. each:

completed in Five Minutes

MINIATURES FROM ONE GUINEA UPWARDS

H. Hervé wishes the Public to understand that besides sketching the Profile Outline, this Machine is the only one that makes a complete Drawing of every Feature of the Face, and in any View, by which means the Likeness is certain, but for the further satisfaction of the Public, he pledges his word that he will return the Money if the Likeness is not good.

Profiles Of All Descriptions Copied Accurately

Persons leaving their names can have any number of Copies without the trouble of sitting again.

N.B. H. Hervé makes it a rule not to allow any person to have the profiles of any Lady or Gentleman till he is satisfied the Parties themselves have no objection.

Great Variety of Rings, Broaches, Lockets, &c, for
Profiles and Miniatures

JEWELLERY of all descriptions on the lowest terms.

On Trade Label No. 4 the number of previous sitters is now larger (twelve thousand), the Bond Street address is omitted, the reference to profiles on plaster of paris, glass and ivory (given on Trade Label No. 2) recurs; and Hervé ceases to refer to himself as a jeweller.

HENRY NERVÉ

MINIATURE AND PROFILE PAINTER
No. 12, CHEAPS1DE

Correct Likenesses in Miniature taken by Hawkins' Patent Machine, by which he has taken the Likenesses of upwards of 12,000 persons; Profiles taken and cut out in Paper 2s. 6d. — completed in Five Minutes.

MINIATURES FROM ONE GUINEA UPWARDS

H. Hervé wishes the Public to understand, that besides sketching the Profile Outline, this Machine is the only one that makes a complete Drawing of every Feature of the Face, and in any View, by which means the Likeness is certain, but, for the further satisfaction of the Public, he pledges his word that he will return the money if the Likeness is not good — Profiles painted on Plaster of Paris, Glass. Ivory, &c., and reduced to the sizes of Rings. Broaches, Lockets, &c.

Profiles of all descriptions copied accurately

Persons leaving their names can have any number of Copies without the trouble of sitting again.

H. Hervé makes it a rule not to allow any Person to have the Profiles of any Lady or Gentlemen, till he is satisfied that the Parties themselves have no Objection.

Great Variety of Rings, Broaches, Lockets, &c.
for Profiles and Miniatures

Trade Label No. 5 (used 1815-16) and Trade Label No. 6 (used from 1816) are different both in wording and typography. Both labels give the same number of sitters as No. 4

(twelve thousand), but both refer to bronzing, not mentioned on the earlier labels. No. 5 was printed by the same firm as No. I. The text of No. 5 is given below; that of No. 6 is legible on the illustration.

HENRY HERVÉ

Miniature and Profile Painter
NO. 12. CHEAPSIDE
At the Private Entrance, opposite Foster Lane.

Correct Likenesses in Miniature taken by Hawkin's Patent Machine, by which he has taken the Likenesses of upwards of 12,000 person.

Profiles taken and cut out in paper at 2s. 6d. each completed in

five Minutes.

Miniatures from One Guinea Upwards

Profiles painted on Plaster of Paris, Glass, ivory in Bronze, &c., in a superior manner, and reduced to the sizes of Rings, Broaches, Lockets, &c. — Profiles of all descriptions copied accurately; — Persons leaving their names can have any number of Copies without sitting again. — H. Hervé makes it a rule not to allow any Persons to have the profiles of any Lady or Gentleman, till he is satisfied the parties themselves have no objection.

If not a Satisfactory Likeness the Money returned

Thiselton, Goodge Street, Printers.

Ills. 455-461