Antique Auguste Edouart Silhouette Rev Francis Close Cheltenham Dean Carlisle UK For Sale

ANTIQUE AUGUSTE EDOUART
CUT PAPER SILHOUETTE OF REVEREND
FRANCIS CLOSE - DEAN OF CARLISLE

Available for purchase is an original antique cut paper silhouette by the famous French silhouette artist Auguste Edouarte (1789-1861). This piece is a likeness of the Reverend Francis Close (1797-1882), the Anglican rector of Cheltenham (1826–1856) and Dean of Carlisle (1856–1881). Reverend Close is depicted standing in a pulpit with one hand raised and the other resting on a prayer book supported by an altar cushion. His clerical neck bands were cut from white paper instead of black. Most likely, this silhouette depicts Close preaching at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, where he was the church\'s first minister. It was likely done before Close was appointed the Dean of Carlisle Cathedral in 1856 and before Edouart left Europe to produce silhouettes in in the United States from 1839 to 1849. There is an illegible date mark at the bottom left that might be \"32\", possibly indicating that the silhouette was done in 1832 during the time when Edouart was known to be travelling throughout England.The cut paper silhouette is mounted on cardboard and measures approximately 11\" x 7 1/4\". The bottom left is marked \"AUG.N EDOUART fecit \'32\" (the \"32\" is my best guess). The back side of the mount has a faint pencil inscription that appears to read \"The Rev Francis Close Cheltenham Dean of Carlisle in 1871\". The inscription was done well after the silhouette was made, as Edouart died in 1861. The year 1871 does match the time period when Close was serving as Dean of Carlisle (1856-1881). The silhouette is framed in a very old wood frame that measures approximately 13 5/8\" x 9 3/4\". The reverse side of the cardboard frame mount is marked in pencil with an attempted translation of the inside inscription, which is mostly incorrect. I purchased this antique silhouette at a recent estate sale. It\'s guaranteed to be an original Edouart silhouette from the early to mid-19th century. Please check my positive response and buy with confidence from a trusted seller.Subject Biography:Francis Close (1797-1882) was an English Anglican clergyman and evangelical preacher, best known for his long incumbency at Holy Trinity Church in Cheltenham and his subsequent tenure as Dean of Carlisle. Educated at St. John\'s College, Cambridge, he earned his B.A. in 1820 and M.A. in 1825. Close rose through curacies in Warwickshire and Middlesex before establishing himself in Cheltenham, where his forceful sermons attracted widespread attention and solidified his reputation as a leading evangelical voice. Close served as rector in Cheltenham for thirty years, where he was a popular preacher and a noted evangelical. He was a vociferous opponent of the Oxford Movement. He advocated for the creation of a training college for schoolteachers and opposed alcohol, tobacco, horse racing, and theatrical amusements. On 24 November 1856, he was nominated to be Dean of Carlisle Cathedral by the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, and the appointment was approved by the Queen. That same year, the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth Doctorate of Divinity upon Close. He remained as Dean of Carlisle until 1881, when failing health forced him to resign. At the time of his resignation, he was the oldest of all deans in the Church of England. He died in Penzance the following year, on 12 December 1882, and was buried in Carlisle Cathedral.Artist Biography:Born in France, Auguste Edouart (1789-1861) was the most prolific silhouette artist of his day. He served in the Napoleonic Wars and came to England in 1814. In 1825, he began work as a silhouette portraitist, creatingfull-length likenesses in profile by cutting out black paper with scissors. Edouart spent fifteen years touring England, cutting the silhouettes of nearly every man and woman who had even the slightest claim to fame. From the time he arrivedin Edinburgh in 1829, he produced some 5,000 likenesses in a 3-year period. Edouart travelled in the United States from about 1839 to 1849, visiting New York, Boston and other locales.He later returned to France, where he worked on smaller silhouettes. By 1845,daguerreotype photographs began replacing silhouettes, and Edouart\'s days of silhouette creations were essentially over. He eventually moved to a small town near Calais and died at Guines on 14 December 1861 at the age of 72.Condition of this Auguste Edouart silhouette is GOOD. The black paper shows some light wear on his right hand. The brown cardboard mount has some age discoloration and spotting. The frame shows considerable wear and has a chunk missing along the top edge, perhaps from a knot of wood that fell out. You could reframe the piece if desired, although I believe the frame to be from the same period that the silhouette was created. Overall, this silhouette looks great and displays well. It has historical significance and would make a fine addition to any collection. Please take a close look at the many photos I\'ve provided and judge condition for yourself. I\'m confident you\'ll be very pleased with this purchase.If you collect antique silhouettes, especially those by Auguste Edouart, don\'t miss your opportunity to purchase this offering. This likeness is unique and you will never see another one exactly like it. My Buy It Now price of only $299 is a bargain for this historically important piece. So, buy this silhouette now before someone else beats you to the deal!While you\'re here, please check out my other listings by clicking on the link below. Whenever possible, I\'ll be happy to reduce shipping for combined purchases.See my other listings for more great items!

Showing Silhouette Outside of Frame
Auguste Edouart Mark
Rear Side of Mount
Closeup of Faint Text on Mount
Rear Side of Frame
Information on Rear Side of Frame - Deciphered Mostly Incorrectly
Wear to Frame Including Knot on Top

Payment is due immediately after purchase. Virginia residents will need to add 5.3% state sales tax to the final purchase price. E-bay has also started charging sales tax in many other states recently, something beyond my control.

For international purchases, the buyer is responsible for all customs fees. The declared value listed on the customs form will be the final selling price of the item. I will not list the item as a \"gift\" to avoid customs charges.

If you\'re the lucky buyer of this Edouart silhouette, it will come to you VERY carefully packaged via USPS Ground Advantage or Priority Mail (your choice). Shipping will be actual charges from zip code 22980 (packaged weight between 3 and 4 pounds). Use the shipping calculator to determine exact mailing cost to your location. International buyers will need to message me for a shipping quote.

E-bay no longer allows sellers to offer buyers the option of purchasing shipping insurance. I will insure this item at my own expense.

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