John Field & Edward Forster, (2) silhouettes, John Field (British, 1771-1841), Male Portrait, c. 1820, black ink with gilt highlights, faintly signed "J Field" lower left, artist and sitter information inscribed verso, 3"h x 2.5"w (sight), 5.5"h x 4.5"w (frame); Edward Foster (British, 1762-1864), Portrait of Edward Upham, Mayor of Exeter, c. 1809, black ink with gilt highlights, sitter and artist information inscribed verso, 3"h x 2"w (sight), 5.75"h x 4.75"w (frame)

Provenance: From the Estate of Nancy R. and Myron L. Mayer, New York City

Notes/Literature: Two of the most prominent English silhouette artists. Regarding John Field, the National Portrait Gallery writes "John Field was one of the most famous of silhouette artists. He began his career as an assistant to John Miers the most successful profilist of the eighteenth century. By 1794 he was responsible for most of the profiles painted at Miers' London studio. In 1830 the Miers and Field partnership was dissolved and Field worked at the same address as his son, also a profile painter, Henry William Field. Field not only produced silhouettes but filled sketchbooks with landscape drawings and painted landscapes, some of which were unusually on the same plaster surface on which he painted silhouettes. He exhibited extensively at the Royal Academy, both silhouettes and landscapes.

Good, toning to back, not examined out of frame **Condition reports are rendered as specialist opinion by the staff of the Auction House and not as statements of fact. We do not guarantee the content of written or verbal condition reports. The absence of a condition report does not imply that there are no condition issues with the lot. Please call us at (973) 377-1500 or e-mail info@milleabros.com with any questions about this lot at least 24 hours prior to auction.