Houghton and Bruce
Gender:
N/A
Date and place of birth:
N/A
Date and place of death:
N/A
Worked:
fl. 1792 to 1797
Known places of work:
Edinburgh
Known techniques:
Painted on plaster and ivory
Known materials:
Plaster and ivory
Frames:
Oval fruitwood, oval hammered brass, presumed jewellery settings
Signature:
Trade Label
Introduction:
HOUGHTON and BRUCE (fl.1792-1797) was long assumed to be a working partnership formed in Edinburgh between accomplished profilist Samuel Houghton and his talented pupil George Bruce. However, newspaper advertisements, recently sourced, show the 'partnership' was established only as a response to Houghton's incapacity and death which occurred some time before March 1793.
In brief, the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 2nd July 1791 marks Houghton's arrival in Edinburgh "...from London...[as]...long a pupil..." of John Miers. A year later 26th July 1792, the same newspaper advertises "Mr.Houghton's...Business is now carried on IN ALL ITS BRANCHES BY GEORGE BRUCE FOR THE JOINT BEHOOF OF MR. HOUGHTON'S FAMILY AND HIMSELF...". Essentially the same advertisement appears in the CALEDONIAN MERCURY 30th March 1793, with mention now made of ...the late Mr. Houghton".
Recorded in 1793-97 Edinburgh directories and on a rare joint trade label, Houghton's widow and Bruce doubtless decided to trade as 'HOUGHTON and BRUCE', anticipating Houghton's celebrity, albeit posthumous, would continue drawing custom. In July 1795, the last of a series of CALEDONIAN MERCURY advertisements stated "Houghton and Bruce still continue to take profile likenesses..." which is odd, given that Houghton had been dead for more than 2 years!
Whether Houghton's death caused a decline in business isn't known, but works bearing the joint trade label are rare and, perhaps tellingly, in 1794 the partnership moved from Houghton's rooms on the fashionable promenade of South Bridge Street to the Head of Anchor Close, High Street, in the bustle of Edinburgh's Old Town. It is worth noting that when he began painting as 'HOUGHTON and BRUCE', George Bruce (1775-1846), though no more than 18 years old, already evidenced a confident hand.
Therefore in summary, any profile thought to be by Houghton bearing a joint trade label, must now be regarded as either a Houghton duplicate, or by Bruce copying Houghton’s style, which, judging by his early output, he was capable of producing. Bolstering the statement in a CALEDONIAN MERCURY advertisement in June 1804, Bruce stated that he “…retained all his original sketches, also those of his predecessor, Mr. Houghton, so those…who have sat to each may have…copies”.
The curious partnership terminated in 1797, when Bruce wed Houghton’s widow and began trading under his own name.
Revised 31 January 2025 (Brian Wellings)
Additional research about Houghton and Bruce:
Source: McKechnie (Author of, British Silhouette Artists and their Work 1760-1860)
Houghton and Bruce (McKechnie Section 4)Houghton and Bruce (McKechnie Section 5)