Silhouette of William Hardie Kneale and Isabella Hardie
Date made: mid 19th century
Description: Silhouette of William Hardie Kneale and his aunt Isabella Hardie, of Ballachrink Farm in Bride. The boy wears a girl's dress, as was common in this era, before he was 'breeched'. The drawing provides a good depiction of mid-nineteenth century clothing. Silhouettes were a cheaper alternative to commissioning a portrait, and we have a number in the collection.
William Hardie Kneale died in 1931, aged 81. His obituary in the Ramsey Courier notes that according to the Manorial Roll the Kneale family had held Regaby Veg for 416 years, first entering into possession in 1515. This made them probably the Manx family with the longest single possession. He produced a series of articles for the Ramsey Courier between 1929 and 1930 describing in detail life in the town fifty years previously.
Measurements: overall: 34.5 cm x 28 cm
Materials: paper, ink
Object name: silhouette
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2019-0015
Subject tags : #artgallerypeople