Torond, Francis

Gender:

Male

Date and place of birth:

Presumed 1743

Date and place of death:

12 June 1812, Little Denmark Street, St Giles, London

Worked:

(fl) 1776-1786

Known places of work:

London

Known techniques:

Painted on paper or card

Known materials:

Fine laid paper

Frames:

Signature:

Recorded

Introduction:

Francis Torond was an accomplished and successful silhouette artist. However, he experienced financial difficulty and decided it was not a profitable career, so sadly only worked as a profilist for 10 years. He is renowned today for his exquisite conversation pieces, and also for his clare-obscur style – the technique of using light and shade in a pictorial piece of art.

Torond emigrated from France to England around 1776/77, and settled with his family in London. He was working at a very competitive time for profilists, so also produced religious paintings and miniatures in colour. Torond’s work is identified through trade labels and it is from these that we can glean information as to the period Torond actually worked as a profilist. For example Trade Label No.6 dated 1786 does not mention silhouettes at all, and on other trade labels Torond describes himself as a drawing master with no mention of silhouettes. Many profiles are framed in oval turned ebonized wood or oval giltwood frames.

Torond painted entirely in Indian ink on fine laid paper, using a quill pen to depict detail. He was incredibly skilled in highlighting the details of clothing and the background in which his sitters were painted. China, furniture and lighting were all beautifully painted. He did not use any mechanical means to produce his silhouettes, and he advertised that he could copy any silhouette onto furniture or jewellery. Many of Torond’s silhouettes are in private possession, but some examples are on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, for example “Mr and Mrs Smith of Hailsham with Aunt Everard”. Today, his work commands high sums – in March 2003, “Mr and Mrs Lowther” sold at Bonhams, London for £9800.