An early 19th century silhouette portrait of The Right Honourable William Saurin sat in a library by Augustin Edouart (1789-1861). Signed and dated ''1834'' by the artist (note the later inscription verso dating the work ''1839'' is incorrect).Augustin Edouart was one of the most famous silhouette artists of the nineteenth century. Born in Dunkerque, he left France in 1814, and established himself in London, where he began his career making portraits from hair. In 1825, he began work as a silhouette portraitist, taking full-length likenesses in profile by cutting out black paper with scissors. Edouart spent fifteen years touring England and in 1829 arrived in Edinburgh. He remained there for three years, during which time he produced some five thousand likenesses. His sitters included the exiled French royal family of Charles X, and many leading figures of Scottish society, including writer Sir Walter Scott and artist William Dyce.The sitter, William Saurin (1757 – 11 February ...