Turner, William (McKechnie Section 2)

Recorded by Jackson (The History of Silhouettes). As the only known example of his work is a print, bearing his name, which he published, presumably the original drawing was by Turner himself. It appears to have been a full-length profile, painted in the mid-1770s, and the sitter was Queen Charlotte. The print, however, was not published until 1782; the address given is ‘Opposite the Church, Snow-Hill, 1782’. The artist can be identified as William Turner, a print-seller, frame-maker, carver and gilder listed by Ian Maxted in The London Book Trades (London, Dawson, 1977).

It is probable that the original from which this print was made was painted in black water-colour, with the details shown in thinned pigment. The portrait is not in full profile. It is painted from the front, to show the Queen’s dress, with her face turned to the left to show its attractive outline.

The question of trade labels does not arise. If other works by this artist should be discovered, they would presumably be signed.

Ill. 937