Almost nothing is known about Mrs Bristow. Indeed, the only information available to us is a fragment of a handbill on an illustrated profile which bears Mrs Bristowe’s name. This states that a device called the Patent Delineator will operate at her address in Church Street, Hackney, London.
A Patent Delineator was a machine designed to take profiles, and produce cut or painted work. However, as Mrs Bristowe was a hatter it is very uncertain whether the machine was used by her or another artist at her address.
The style of the illustrated profile, bearing the handbill suggests a date c1820 as the profile has notable features from this period. For example, the width of the profile indicates a gathered sleeve at the shoulder on a tail-coat, which has a stand-fall collar. The profile is painted as well as cut, and produced by a machine. Gum Arabic has been used to highlight the hair, but little other detail is shown.
Source: McKechnie (Author of, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860)
Bristowe, Mrs (McKechnie Section 1)