Giles, P. (McKechnie Section 2)

Known from a bust-length silhouette of an army officer (probably a lieutenant) which appears to have been painted c. 1812-15 and is in the collection of the Reverend H. J. Patterson. It is smoothly painted in Indian ink; the detail of the uniform is added in fine strokes of thinned black water-colour, and the high black stock is in solid colour. The sitter was probably a lieutenant; especially fine shading is shown on the epaulette on the right shoulder. Hair and face are in solid black, and thick black comma-like strokes are used to show the high hair over the forehead, in the à la Titus style which was in fashion c. 1812-15. The head is exceptionally large: about one and a half times the usual size seen on this type of work. The card on which the example is painted measures 2¾ x 2¼ in. There is no bust-line termination. The frame is of papier mâché.

The silhouette is signed 'P. Giles', in pencil, in a small cursive hand, over the Indian ink.