Godfrey, W. F. (McKechnie Section 3)

See also Sections Two, Five and Six

Recorded by Jackson (Dictionary) by reason of a silhouette in her collection, painted on glass and bearing on the reverse a comprehensive printed trade label. Also recorded by Mayne, who gives a date of 1805.

On his trade label, Godfrey refers to seven years’ work carried out in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. We can only conclude that he worked in these counties, and possibly elsewhere, 1805-20. Since Godfrey mentions work in colour, in ‘bronze’ on paper, and for jewellery (no doubt on ivory), a certain amount of his work must be extant. Mayne considered that he was best known for his work on glass. Since no example of Godfrey's work in colour appears to have been recorded, we do not know whether this was in the form of portrait miniatures or (as seems more likely) profile miniatures on card.

The profile owned by Jackson was painted on the under surface of convex glass (though, as we know from his trade label, Godfrey also used flat glass). Jackson describes this profile as follows: ‘the face black, dress white, gold earrings, and a tortoiseshell comb in her hair.’ One would expect an artist who advertised ‘bronzed’ work on paper to have added touches of gold to work on glass. Not many painters on glass, however, did add gold to their work on glass, exceptions being William Hamlet the elder, Charles Rosenberg and W. Williams, who sometimes used gold for military subjects or to show royal decorations.

There is in my collection a profile of doubtful provenance, possibly attributable to Godfrey. The face is painted black; the hair black against very dark grey. The earrings and necklace are added in gold, and the dress is painted in Chinese white, not simply left clear for a white backing to show through. An artist who also painted in colour would more readily use white pigment to paint a dress than would an artist who was accustomed to use black or thinned black pigment for this purpose. Nevertheless, I do not consider the attribution of this silhouette to Godfrey to be absolutely certain.

The text of the trade label recorded by Jackson reads as follows:

W. F. GODFREY announces to the Nobility and Gentry of this town and its vicinity that he executes likenesses in profile shadow in a style particularly striking and elegant, whereby the most forcible animation is reduced to the miniature size for setting in rings, lockets, bracelets, &c.

W. F. G. having had a successful practice for the last seven years and the honour of taking the principal families in Somerset, Cornwall and North Devon to their fullest and entire satisfaction: and one trial only is required to ensure confidence and recommendation.

Likenesses beautified and enamelled on flat and convex glass, in bronze on paper or glass.

Likenesses taken in colour.

Ladies and Gentlemen waited on in their own homes in town or country. 74