Allenby

Introduction:

No extant work by this artist has been found. Information comes instead from two trade labels printed in the Limerick Chronicle in 1840. The first, in June of that year, makes the claim that Allenby has been working for the past thirty three years, which would position his working career beginning in 1807. However, this cannot be stated as fact. Allenby also claims that his rooms in various venues in London have been “crowded” with sitters throughout his career, from which it can be deduced that he worked in England before arriving in Ireland. As examples of his work remain unknown, McKechnie observes “...we can only assume...that the ‘profiles in black’ were painted, since he offered other types of painted work”. The trade labels state that Allenby used “a newly invented Patent Machine”. It can therefore be assumed that his outlines were produced mechanically.

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