A rare and most unusual c1830 painted British silhouette of a doctor or naturalist in its original frame. Dimensions of frame: 31 x 38 cm approx. Very good condition: the colors are bright and paper is not foxed. What appears to be a stripe on the right near the man’s head in the framed image is reflection. This can be confirmed in the next image, which shows the silhouette removed from the frame.

The only similar silhouette I’ve been able to find is in the National Galleries of Scotland. It depicts Robert Knox (1791-1862), the eminent Edinburgh anatomist, holding a skull–see link below. His reputation was destroyed  by his association with Burke and Hare ,the notorious body snatchers, and he had to flee Edinburgh for London. 

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/2940