Clarke, W. (McKechnie Section 4)

Recorded by Jackson (The History of Silhouettes and Dictionary), by Mayne, and by Foskett, who mentions an advertisement in Adam's Weekly Courant, Chester,

19 September 1780. The advertisement indicates that Clarke was an itinerant artist who specialized in hair and pearl work, but also painted silhouettes:

Likenesses in Hair

by

W. Clarke

Who takes the liberty of acquainting the Ladies and Gentlemen of Chester and its Environs, that during his stay here, he executes designs in Hair for Lockets, Rings, Pins, Bracelets, &., &., with Landscapes, Figures, Cyphers, Crests, Coats-of-Arms, Wheat Sheaves, Flower Baskets, Urns with Mottos for Mourning and other Rings; he also plaits hair in the neatest Manner, with everything else in that way, which the Fancy of the Purchase may appoint; and flatters himself from his MODERATE CHARGES and NEATNESS of his Work, to merit their approbation.

Such Ladies and Gentlemen as are desirous of preserving the Hair of a Deceased or absent Friend, may have it finished in an Elegant Manner, without the Inconvenience or Hazard of sending it to London, whereby it is not only too frequently chang'd, but totally lost. He takes the most striking likenesses in Profile, so low as one shilling each, and begs leave to acquaint the ladies, that they need not be at the Trouble of having their Hair dressed, as he finishes the Head in an elegant manner, entirely from his own fancy and does not require of Lady or Gentleman to sit longer than two minutes.

Ladies and Gentlemen taught the Art of Plaiting Hair so expeditiously as to execute it in the most complete manner with only six teachings.

He will receive commands at Mr. Davies', Perfumer, the corner of Talbot Row, from Eight to Ten in the morning and from One to Six in the Afternoon, where Specimens may be seen, or will wait on any Ladies or Gentlemen with them.

As his stay in Town will be very short, he requests the Honour of their Commands as soon as possible.

Evidently he was taking enough silhouettes by the following year to justify the printing of a trade label, noted by Jackson (Dictionary) on a silhouette dated 1781. Jackson records another example marked with a Harrogate address, and Mayne records work in and near Durham. I myself have seen no identifiable silhouette by Clarke.

Jackson states that Clarke painted silhouettes not on the plaster slabs used by most profilists, but on rectangular or square pieces of card coated with a thin layer of plaster. She describes his work as fine, with detail that is 'opaque, never thinned'. Mayne writes that silhouettes by Clarke that come to light 'will be set in unorthodox frames, usually gilded'.

The trade label recorded by Jackson reads as follows:

Likenesses in Profile

W. CLARKE

Takes the Liberty of acquainting Ladies and Gentlemen of Newcastle and Places adjacent that during this stay in Town, he takes the Most Striking Likenesses in Profile.

So low as One Shilling each. Time of sitting only Two Minutes. He begs leave to acquaint the Ladies that they need not be at the Trouble of getting their Hair dress'd, as he finishes the Head in an elegant Manner entirely from his own Fancy: Old Shades reduced with Care and Expedition. He also executes Designs in Hair for Lockets, Rings, Pins, &c.

Ladies and Gentlemen taught the art of Plaiting Hair so expeditiously so as to execute it in the most complete manner in only six teachings.

Clarke probably used this label on his travels; there may have been a space on it which he filled in with the name of the town which he was visiting. The low charge of one shilling for a profile may have been accounted for by the lack of a frame.