Possibly painted to mark their marriage around 1808, these well-painted silhouettes depict Mr and Mrs J.A. Ransome: he wearing a neatly tied stock, his hair fashionably brushed high over his forehead; she in a dainty lace cap with a broad ribbon trim and a lace fastening under her chin. Both profiles have Allport’s trademark painted lines under the bust. Set in the original papier-māché frames with convex glass and Museum hangers, the silhouettes are in fine condition. The frames have the usual edges dings and a short scratch to one glass.*Born in Birmingham in 1779, William Twigg Allport was the third of eleven children born to Thomas and Ann Allport (also spelled Alport). Thomas was a gunsmith by trade and at least five of his sons subsequently joined him in that business. William though moved to Liverpool having opted instead to follow an artistic career. There he met and married Alice Ashworth and with her had nine children between 1803 and 1819.*In Liverpool Allpor...