Hi everyone! I won this pair of silhouettes recently at an auction house. Someone has written on the back in pencil that they are the Duke and Duchess of Gordon (Scotland I presume). I am trying to figure out 1. How do I determine if it is indeed these people? 2. If it is the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, do you know which ones (time period) by the style of silhouette and clothing? 3. Is the backing original to the pieces? (I like them, they are still very colourful!. Thanks for any and all info as always
Those look like decorative reproductions. Given the history of the title, yours should be George Duncan Gordon, the 5th Duke of Gordon. (1770-1836.) His wife was Elizabeth Brodie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Gordon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon,_5th_Duke_of_Gordon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Gordon,_Duchess_of_Gordon Debora
At first look, I did think they were decorative reproductions. At second look, I see I likely was wrong. Let's see what others thing. The portraits themselves can be dated by their hair and clothing. His hair is natural; he's not wearing a wig so 1810-ish or a tad earlier. She's wearing a simple turban with tassel which would date the same. They both appear to be too young to fit the dates of the 5th Duke of Gordon so the identification may be incorrect. Debora
Despite it saying, "Jean - Duchess of Gordon", I wonder if they meant Jane, the 4th Duchess of Gordon (1748/9-1812)... and her husband Alexander (1743-1827).
