Woodham, J. (McKechnie Section 3)

Recorded by Jackson (Dictionary; a brief entry) and also by Coke (The Art of Silhouette), who writes as follows: 'Mrs Bromley Taylor owns the most pleasing example of this misguided industry that I have ever met. A marine background, with rocks and lighthouse, lends interest to the customary full-length figure. This picture is inscribed "by J. Woodham from Milverton, AoDni 1825", but I cannot help feeling that someone has blundered as to the equally usual directions, for in this case they run, "To be placed upon a south or back light not exceeding five feet in height ..." ' The phrase 'misguided industry' is an allusion to the painting of full-length figures on glass in a style that Coke did not admire. But for the mention of Milverton, in Somerset, one would assume that this silhouette was painted by John Woodhouse (q.v.), who was working at the relevant date and who was, as far as I know, the only silhouette artist who included these hanging instructions on much of his work. Woodhouse, however, lived in Newcastle and Alnwick and worked not only as a profilist but also as a house painter and glazier; it seems unlikely that he would have travelled as far afield as Milverton.

On the other hand it must be borne in mind that such old inscriptions as the example quoted by Coke are often faded and difficult to decipher. Woodhouse's work had not yet been isolated when Coke was writing, and it is possible that he misread 'Woodhouse' for 'Woodham' and Milverton for Milbourne (only a few miles from Newcastle). The illustration of Woodham's Trade Label No. 2 shows how easily the name 'Woodhouse' could be thus misread. 'Woodham', therefore, may never have existed.

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