RomanceEverAfter

Romantic Tales - Regency

The Art of the Silhouette

For those of you who have seen the movie, Sense and Sensibility, you may recall a scene where Marianne is drawing Willoughby's silhouette.  This activity displayed in the movie actually has some basis in fact.

Silhouette - A French Genesis

The French minister of finance, Etienne de Silhouette (1709-1769), commenced the art form of silhouettes.  He began the activity as a hobby, cutting out black profiles of his studies.  

The artists who created silhouettes were known as "profile miniaturists" and the artistic pieces were referred to as profile miniatures or shades.  Beginning in 1790, silhouettes gave those of nobility and common bloodlines alike the opportunity to obtain the likeness of a family member or special lady or gentleman.  

How the Silhouette Was Created

There were three ways a silhouette was created.  The first was to produce a silhouette profile by using a lit candle to throw a shadow from which to trace the profile.  Another option was to make the silhouette by machine.  The last, and most favorable of means, was to hand draw the silhouette.  

The artist then cut out the profile of the individual from a black sheet of paper.   Depending on the artist and desired cost, the recipient could have gold accents and paint added to create a more true-to-life depiction.

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