J Frith Silhouette Mr U Wight 1845

A very fine family silhouette of the Mr U Wight 1845 dated 1845, again in undisturbed condition. Au verso it identifies the sitter on an affixed label. The silhouette is signed and dated bottom right left hand side. The original framing was done by Aitken Dott (1815-92) & Son of 26 South Castle Street, Edinburgh. They established their firm there in 1842. The superb silhouette is applied to the card backing which has a domestic, as opposed to foreign decoration behind and foliage to the base, including the signature. The gold mount and all the framing attributes are as originally sealed. Three members of the Frith family managed the Royal Victoria gallery (1837-c. 1854). The Mckechnie reference (p265) has an extensive entry, and we have seen that the Friths traveled the country extensively. They cut the silhouettes of other members of the Lambe/Wight family on the same visit – Anna Wilhelimina, Mr AJ Lambe, and Mrs Ann Margaret Lambe. Although this signature is has the same qualities as that of of F Frith (see Mckechnie p340), the additional colour to the waistcoat, neckerchief, hand, cuff, gloves and watch chain makes it much more likely to be by John Frith.