Royal Victoria Gallery (McKechnie Section 6)

See Section One for main entry

Included in this Section because more than one advertisement contains the offer of 'much admired colour profiles at 10s. 6d.' The gallery was managed by three members of one family: John Frith and his two sons, F. and Henry Albert. It is certain that John Frith painted portrait miniatures in colour. An early advertisement published in Tunbridge Wells refers to 'Master' Frith and mentions this type of work in colour; this reference is probably to F. Frith, who may have painted a few examples. Though it is impossible to separate with certainty the work of members of a family who worked so closely together, I know of no evidence that Henry Albert Frith painted colour profiles.

Our certainty that John Frith painted portrait miniatures in colour derives from an example, framed in a locket of gilt metal, owned by Mrs Sue Pinker. The sitter is an officer, probably a marine. The miniature is signed on the reverse:

J. Frith fecit
122, George's Street
Limerick
July, 1840.

The inscription continues: 'George Vincent left Shanagolden Jany. 14th 1841 to join the Pelican 16 guns at Chatham as first Lieutenant. NB. This appointment to the Pelican was cancelled and he was appointed to the Indus, 80 guns as 3rd. Lieut, Jany 27 1841.'

This portrait was of indifferent quality. It showed the sitter with his face in profile, his shoulders turned to show a wing on his left shoulder and an epaulette on his right. He wore a drab jacket, with red facings and gold lace, and the background of cloudy sky was poorly painted. A little more skill was shown in the painting of the sitter's face (heavily bewhiskered, as might be expected in a miniature of this date).

An advertisement in the Limerick Chronicle (27 June 1840), the text of which is quoted in Section One, notes the arrival in the city of 'Mr. Frith, Senr' to join his sons.