Hanks

Introduction:

Although referred to by Jackson as “an English prodigy”, more recent evidence shows that Hanks was of American origin. He may have worked in Britain, however, with sitters purportedly including the Duke of Clarence, later William IV. Six authenticated examples of Hanks’ work show cutting of not a particularly high standard.

Graves lists a J F Hankes exhibiting from London from 1838-1859. However, other sources indicate that Hanks was in Cleveland, USA during this period. Although it is uncertain whether Hanks indeed visited Britain, early collectors owned silhouettes of English sitters. According to an advertisement of the Gallery in the Salem Register 17 August 1828 the artist also cut “an elegant and elaborate view of York Minster”, but this piece may have been produced after a print or a drawing.

The authenticated examples of Hanks’ work are illustrated by Mrs Carrick in ‘A History of American Silhouettes’. Five of these are bust-length profiles: four of women and one of a man. The bustline on the ladies is quite distinctive, dipping almost to the waist in front with a deep concavity to show the arm demarcation. Two of the bust-length profiles are bronzed. The sixth example is a full-length profile of Dr Edward A Holyoke, which was taken when the sitter was a hundred years old. It shows undistinguished black cutting, with rough streaks of watercolour to indicate shadow. McKechnie takes a poor view of Hanks’ authenticated work, and certainly no example is as elaborate as the view of York Minster appears to have been.