A pair of silhouette group portraits depicting Managers of the Orphan Hospital, Edinburgh and The School Room of the Orphan Hospital, Edinburgh
each signed and dated 1830
cut out silhouettes with pencil and watercolour
the frames bearing the names of the managers and staff members
45 x 72cm

Exhibited:
'Cut and Dried, the Silhouettes of Augustin Edouart', Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 2005-2006

Literature:
Mrs Jackson, Ancestors in Silhouette, p.33

In 1727 Edinburgh merchant Andrew Gairdner set up a charitable subscription to raise funds for an orphan institution. The first Orphan Hospital took in 30 orphans in 1733 before a larger purpose-built hospital opened below North Bridge. In 1799 the Orphanage was moved to Leith to escape the industrialisation of the city.