Relief, ivory in wood frame with metal ring, portrait of Major Henry Charles Sirr, by William Ewing (or Ewings), British, 1818

The portrait relief shows the sitter in bust profile facing right, signed below the bust 'W. Ewing sc 1818'. A piece of paper on the back of the frame, written in hand probably shortly before the ivory was acquired, confirms the identity of the sitter and the artist. It states: 'Major H.C. Sirr, 1764-1841 (see Dictionary National Biography). Ivory relief W. Ewing 1818. Ewing's work is scarce. Once only he exhibited at the Royal Academy (in 1822) and then four works, portraits in ivory, - of Canova, done in Rome in 1820, of Pius Seventh, done in Rome in 1821, and another of a young lady, and a study from the head of an antique statue of Antonius in the Museo Borbonico at Naples.'

Given by Mr Harry Sirr

Given by Mr Harry Sirr Esq. F.R.I.B.A., Suffolk, a descendant of the sitter, in 1940.

Major Henry Charles Sirr was born in Dublin, and became town-major, or head of the police, of Dublin in 1796. He also collected curiosities and antiquities.

The sculptor W. Ewing (active 1818-1836) could be related to two sculptors active in Glasgow, the brothers George Edwin Ewing (1828-84) and James Alexander Ewing (1843-1900), although, if male, he was not their father. The sculptor could have been female. 'W. Ewing' exhibited four ivories at the Royal Academy in 1822 (Graves 1970, Vol. 2, p. 74).

A.60-1940