Ker, Isabella (McKechnie Section 1)
A silhouette by Isabella Ker is illustrated in this Section simply to indicate that profiles of this type, produced by amateurs as a hobby, may still be found. Many families must have owned profiles such as this one, cut by one of their members. Isabella Ker's style of cutting, as shown in the half-length profile which I have illustrated, was primitive and of little merit. The paper appears to have been blackened with Indian ink.
In 1784 Isabella Ker (later Mrs William Herries), together with her brother and sister-in-law, sat to the miniaturist Andrew Plimer. The resulting portraits, which were exhibited at the South Kensington Museum in 1865, are illustrated in G. C. Williamson, Andrew and Nathaniel Plimer (London, 1903).
Ills. 512, 513
512
Richard Gervase Ker
Cut silhouette
c. 1784-85
3 x 2½in./77 x 64mm.
Richard Gervase Ker
Cut silhouette
c. 1784-85
3 x 2½in./77 x 64mm.
Inscribed by the artist. The sitter was the artist’s father. This silhouette is illustrated as an example of work by an amateur profilist of the period.
Author’s collection
