Mansell (McKechnie Section 7)

A silhouette artist who has not previously been recorded. Artists of the same name are listed by Graves and Foskett, but none appear to have been working c.1840-45, from which period date two silhouettes of women by the subject of this entry.

One of these silhouettes (illustrated) is inscribed on the reverse in faint pencil, 'Mansell Marlborough'. The name 'Marlborough' is quite clearly written. 'Mansell' is less clear to the eye, but doubt was dispelled when Mr D. B. Richards informed me that he owned a silhouette (dated on the reverse 'Dec. 1844') painted in a similar style on card with a punched and embossed border on which the name Mansell is clearly embossed in one corner. We do not know, however, whether the profilist lived in Marlborough, or was merely visiting the town.

The style of the illustrated example is somewhat like that of John Dempsey, and the long and sloping bust-line with curves at each end is similar to the type favoured by him. The piece, which is finely painted, shows touches of pale blue on the sitter's cap and ribbons; this colour is repeated on her pèlerine. The hair is in gold. The base colour is black water-colour, thinned where necessary to show clothing detail.

The other silhouette (of which I have seen only a sketch) is of a woman wearing a bonnet with a bavolet, and either a large pèlerine or a shawl. I am told that, apart from the sitter's hair (what is visible of this, protruding from beneath her bonnet, is painted in gold), all the detail is painted against the black background in silver. Silver was little used at the time by silhouette artists; Francis (see Section One)sometimes used a touch of silver, but, as far as I know, only on full-length work.

Ill. 1615