Silhouette of Ann Jefferis Wilson

1802-1820

Maker

Peale Museum

Measurements

5-1/8 in x 3-7/8 in x 3/8 in; sight 3-3/4 in x 2-1/2 in

Materials

Paper

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.827

Inscription

“Ann Jefferis Wilson / 1800” is written in brown ink along the bottom of the image.  "PEALES MUSEUM" (the spread-eagle and banner stamp) is impressed below the image.

Condition Notes

The silhouette appears to have some tears in the lower left corner.

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner

Comments

The silhouette, showing the left profile of the sitter, was identified as Ann Jefferis Wilson by Mary Corbit Warner, who wrote Ann's name and the date 1800 below the image.  The silhouette bears a Peale Museum stamp, indicating it was made there after 1802, when Charles Willson Peale acquired a physiognotrace, a mechanical means of tracing a sitter's likeness.  The "hollow-cut" silhouette was made by cutting out the center of the off-white paper, then mounting it on black paper or of another contrasting color.