Rosenberg, Charles (McKechnie Section 2)

See Section Three for main entry

Since in none of his advertisements, nor on any of his trade labels, does Rosenberg mention that he works on paper, I was surprised to see at the Bristol Art Gallery a bust-length profile from his hand (painted on paper, bearing his Trade Label No. 2, and housed in one of the large oval hammered brass frames which he habitually used for work on glass), although I know of a group silhouette on paper (see below). The bust-length silhouette, typically, represents a member of a prominent local family of Rosenberg’s day. The sitter is G. W. Blathwayt, who, in 1792, when the profile was painted, was living at Langport, Somerset. He was no doubt a relative of the Blathwayts of Dyrham Park, for there are profiles of other members of this family in Bristol Art Gallery. This example, then, was no experiment, and one or two other profiles painted on paper have been recorded.

The group silhouette to which I have referred, painted on paper by Rosenberg, 8½in. in height and in a gilt frame, was sold by Sotherby and Company, London, on 26 March 1962. The sitters are George III and two companions.

Rosenberg’s silhouettes on paper are more precisely and carefully painted than most of his more numerous silhouettes on glass. This is shown on the illustrated example by the painting of the sitter’s shirt-frill and the buttons on his jacket. The bust-line finish is similar to that of the bust-length profiles on glass.

In Section Three I give my opinion that Trade Label No. 2, with which the silhouette of Blathwayt is backed, was in use from 1791-98. The date on this silhouette bears out this theory.

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