Attributed to John Ramage (Irish, ca. 1748 – 1802)

Unidentified man

1770–1790

Hollow-cut beige paper with black ink and black eglomisé underlay (repaired with paper)

Image (height): 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Framed: 5 in. × 5 in. × 5/8 in. (12.7 × 12.7 × 1.6 cm)

Gift of an anonymous donor

1947.486

Instead of black fabric or paper, hollow-cut silhouettes sometimes had underlays of glass coated with black pigment, known as églomisé. Ramage was an Irish American miniature artist and goldsmith. He was known for being the first artist to paint George Washington while he was president. Like many artists, Ramage produced miniatures, hair work, and silhouette portraits, the latter that generated business from sitters who could not afford painted miniatures.

DescriptionSilhouette: Bust of male subject in left-facing profile; hollow-cut from beige paper with solid black underlay; detailing in black ink on margins of cut-out; circular wooden frame.

ClassificationsDRAWINGS