This is an extremely well executed American hollow cut silhouette that is likely by William Massey Doyle. It represents, not only some of Doyle’s best work, but also some of the best work seen in American hollow cut silhouettes. The gentleman displays great style with his frilled shirt front cut with triangular slashes and his stock is subtly cut above really superbly cut facial features. The man’s jacket collar is high and rolled. The artist used an exaggerated bust termination line convex dip at the front and a high concave termination in the back that adds a lot of style and is similar to bust terminations that Doyle used on his best work. The artist painted the sitter’s à la Brutus hairstyle with as much fancy and style as the actual hair must have looked. The brass over wood frame measures 5 ¼” x 4 ½”, not including the hanging loop. The silhouette is in excellent shape but for some paper loss to the upper corners of the paper which are all but completely covered by the frame. Circa 1810. This is a really special silhouette deserving a place in your collection.

#5172    $1450

Please see the Silhouettist Bios page for more information about William M.S. Doyle.