Dickens and His Illustrators Part 30

The small number of frontispieces furnished by Sir John Gilbert to W. A.

Townsend & Co.'s Household Edition are reprinted, with those of Darley, in Houghton, Mifflin & Co.'s Standard Library Edition. It is perhaps not generally known that, in 1868, four woodcut ill.u.s.trations were specially designed by Sir John for one of d.i.c.kens's minor productions, "Holiday Romance,"--a short story written expressly for _Our Young Folks_, a magazine published by Ticknor & Fields, of Boston, U.S.A. In the original announcement we read that the artist had "consented to waive his decision not to draw again on wood, in order to give additional interest to Mr. d.i.c.kens's 'Romance,'" by which it may be inferred that these are among the last examples of Sir John's skill in that direction.

For the initials in "Holiday Romance," a Transatlantic artist, G. G.

White, was responsible. Sir John Gilbert, R.A., P.R.W.S., also produced a series of "Pickwick" ill.u.s.trations, now exceedingly rare, particulars of which will be found in the next chapter. This accomplished painter and prolific designer died so recently as October 5, 1897, in his eightieth year, and of him it has been truly observed that in his most distinctive line--viz., ill.u.s.tration--we can look in vain for his equal.

It is recorded that he must have contributed no fewer than thirty thousand subjects to the pages of _The Ill.u.s.trated London News_ alone, besides supplying innumerable designs to _The London Journal_ and other publications. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that Sir John Gilbert stands out pre-eminently the great popular ill.u.s.trator of the Victorian era.

[Sidenote: =Sol. Eytinge.=]

Among the American ill.u.s.trators of the writings of d.i.c.kens, an important place must be conceded to Sol. Eytinge, who was born in New York in 1833. He began to draw at a very early age, and for forty years was a most industrious ill.u.s.trator of books, papers, and magazines. For a long time he was connected with Harper & Brothers, but subsequently became the chief artist of _Every Sat.u.r.day_, published by Fields, Osgood & Co., to which he contributed many d.i.c.kensian subjects, notably a large picture ent.i.tled "Mr. Pickwick's Reception," representing Sam Weller introducing to Pickwick the leading characters in the various novels. To the Diamond Edition of d.i.c.kens's works, launched by Ticknor & Fields in 1867, Eytinge made several full-page drawings, each of the princ.i.p.al stories containing sixteen ill.u.s.trations, all of which were engraved on wood. He also made some drawings for a volume of "The Readings of Mr.

Charles d.i.c.kens," and subsequently prepared a series of character sketches, which were etched for the "d.i.c.kens Dictionary [of Characters]," published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. in their Standard Library Edition. Concerning Sol. Eytinge's ill.u.s.trations d.i.c.kens said: "They are remarkable alike for a delicate perception of beauty, a lively eye for character, a most agreeable absence of exaggeration, and a general modesty and propriety which I greatly like." On the whole these pictures are well done, although it must be admitted that the artist has not always succeeded in satisfactorily interpreting his author. When the novelist last visited America (1867-68), his portrait was painted by Eytinge, probably from sittings, and it is now in the possession of Mr.

W. E. Benjamin of New York. A lithographic reproduction of this painting, by the artist himself, was published by Ticknor & Fields of Boston and New York in 1868, copies of which are now seldom met with. I am enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Stuart M. Samuel, to include in this volume a _replica_ of a particularly interesting impression of this rare print, on which d.i.c.kens has written the concluding words of "A Christmas Carol:" "And so, as Tiny Tim observed, G.o.d Bless Us, Every One." In the summer of 1869 Eytinge visited the novelist at Gad's Hill, in company with Lowell and Fields, on which occasion they together explored the slums of East London, including the opium-dens so faithfully described in "Edwin Drood." The artist has now been dead for some years; during the latter part of his career he lived in retirement, on account of ill-health.

I have not attempted to enumerate all the ill.u.s.trators who have executed drawings for the innumerable editions of the works of Charles d.i.c.kens, produced by various publishing houses both at home and abroad, as their name is Legion. There are, however, two or three artists, not already mentioned, to whom a slight reference may fittingly be made. In 1871, Fields, Osgood & Co. reprinted d.i.c.kens's beautiful and pathetic sketch ent.i.tled "A Child's Dream of a Star," with ten full-page drawings by an American artist, Hammatt Billings, which were engraved on wood by W. J.

Linton. The imprint of another Transatlantic publisher, S. E. Ca.s.sino, appears on the t.i.tle-page of a choice edition of "A Christmas Carol,"

1887, quarto size, containing twenty-four photogravure reproductions of new designs by J. M. Gaugengigl and T. V. Chominski, which forms an attractive item for the collector of fine books. This work was also on sale in England by G. Routledge & Sons, who, in 1894, brought out a diminutive edition of "The Cricket on the Hearth," very tastefully printed by Guillaume of Paris, and containing several little woodcuts designed by Marold and Mittis. The same story was included in the reprints of d.i.c.kens's Christmas Books published by A. & F. Pears, having twenty-five clever ill.u.s.trations by Lucius Rossi, carried out in a style somewhat similar to those by Charles Green. Particular interest attaches to certain volumes published by Ca.s.sell & Co., ent.i.tled "Gleanings from Popular Authors" (1882, &c.), as they contain several ill.u.s.trations of d.i.c.kens scenes by Joseph Nash, Fred. Barnard, T. Walter Wilson, J. E.

Christie, and Gordon Browne, the son of the famous "Phiz." To a booklet ent.i.tled "Tales from Pickwick" (G. Routledge & Sons, 1888), Mr. E. J.

Wheeler contributed seven original and well-executed designs.

Messrs. Chapman & Hall's recently-published Gadshill Edition of "Hunted Down" and "George Silverman's Explanation" contains three designs by Mr.

Maurice Greiffenhagen, who, like Mr. Phil May, now figures as an ill.u.s.trator of d.i.c.kens for the first time. Mr. Greiffenhagen is also preparing six original drawings for "American Notes" and "Pictures from Italy," which will be reproduced by photogravure for the same Edition, while another well-known artist, Mr. Harry Furniss, has been commissioned to provide four ill.u.s.trations of a like character for "The Uncommercial Traveller."

As I write, another edition of "David Copperfield" is announced for early publication by Mr. George Allen, the special feature of which will be the thirty-six designs by a new d.i.c.kens ill.u.s.trator, Mr. Phil May, whose admirable draughtsmanship is familiar to us; there will also be issued a limited number of sets of the ill.u.s.trations,--full-size _facsimiles_ of the drawings, signed by the artist and accompanied by descriptive text. Messrs. J. M. Dent & Co. are preparing an edition of d.i.c.kens's Works for their Temple Library, an interesting feature of which will be a series of coloured frontispieces, from original drawings by Miss L. M. Fisher, Mr. F. C. Tilney, and W. C. Cooke.

APPENDIX

II

CONCERNING "EXTRA ILl.u.s.tRATIONS"

Independent Publications--Unauthorised Designs--List of Additional Ill.u.s.trations--d.i.c.kens's Calendars, Relief Sc.r.a.ps, &c.--"ALFRED CROWQUILL"--His Etchings in _Bentley's Miscellany_--An Admirable Vocalist--His Ill.u.s.trations for "Pickwick Abroad"--KENNY MEADOWS--"The Nestor of _Punch's_ Staff"--His Drawings in the _Ill.u.s.trated London News_--His Work Criticised--A Civil-List Pension--A Delightful _Raconteur_--T. ONWHYN--His Signatures of "Sam Weller, Junr.," and "Peter Palette"--Ill.u.s.trates c.o.c.kton's Novels--Plates for "Pickwick" Recently Discovered--"JACOB PARALLEL"--A Punning Advertis.e.m.e.nt--His Designs for "Charley Chalk"--F. W. PAILTHORPE--The only Survivor of the "Old School"--A Friend of George Cruikshank--Coloured Plates--C.

D. GIBSON--His Drawing of the Pickwick Club--His Individuality of Style.

Since the publication of "The Pickwick Papers" there have appeared, from time to time, a number of designs ill.u.s.trating the novels of Charles d.i.c.kens which were issued independently of the particular stories that inspired them, and generally without letterpress. Artists and publishers alike thus availed themselves of the enormous popularity achieved by d.i.c.kens's writings, confident in the belief that financial success would attend their efforts. Among those responsible for the designing of what are usually termed "Extra Ill.u.s.trations" were many well-known draughtsmen of the day, including Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"), Sir John Gilbert, R.A., Onwhyn, Kenny Meadows, Alfred Forrester ("Crowquill"), and, more recently, Fred. Barnard and F. W. Pailthorpe. It must, however, be admitted that, with regard to certain productions by artists less skilled in the use of the pencil or etching-needle, such attempts to interpret d.i.c.kens's conceptions conspicuously fail.

In particular instances the publication of supplementary plates was approved by d.i.c.kens, but, for the most part, these independent ill.u.s.trations were really unauthorised, the booksellers merely trading on the popularity of the novels (especially the earlier ones), which afforded unlimited scope for pictorial treatment. That there must have been a fairly constant demand for them is proved by their number and variety, nearly every form of reproductive art being made available for these designs, including steel-engraving, etching, wood-engraving, lithography, chromo-lithography, photogravure, &c. Some of the scarcer sets realise high prices, and are naturally much in request. In the following list, which, I believe, is practically complete, I have included a few d.i.c.kens ill.u.s.trations that were published in periodicals, in some cases with letterpress; although these cannot strictly be regarded as "Extra Ill.u.s.trations," they are not without interest to the collector of such ephemeral productions. The names of the artists are alphabetically arranged.

J. ABSOLON AND F. CORBEAUX.

BARNABY RUDGE.--Four engravings on steel by Finden, from drawings by Absolon and Corbeaux. Crown 8vo, green wrapper, price one shilling. To accompany the first Cheap Edition, 1849. London: Chapman & Hall, 186 Strand, N.D.

These designs were portraits of the princ.i.p.al characters, viz., Dolly Varden and Barnaby Rudge, by J. Absolon; Emma Haredale and Miss Miggs, by F. Corbeaux--the latter plate forming the frontispiece.

F. BARNARD.

CHARACTER SKETCHES FROM d.i.c.kENS.--Six lithographs, portraits of Mrs. Gamp, Alfred Jingle, Bill Sikes and his Dog, Little Dorrit, Sidney Carton, Pickwick. Elephant folio. London: Ca.s.sell, Petter & Galpin, N.D. [1879]. Afterwards issued as photogravures (20 in. by 14-1/2 in.), price one guinea.

Reproductions on a reduced scale, etched by C. W. Walker, were published by Estes & Lauriat, New York, N.D.

CHARACTER SKETCHES FROM d.i.c.kENS.--Second Series. Six photogravures. Portraits of the two Wellers, Caleb Plummer and his Blind Daughter, Rogue Riderhood, Mr. Peggotty, Little Nell and her Grandfather, Mr. Pecksniff. Same publishers, 1884.

CHARACTER SKETCHES FROM d.i.c.kENS.--Third Series. Six photogravures. Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, Uriah Heep, d.i.c.k Swiveller and the Marchioness, Betsy Trotwood, Captain Cuttle, Mr. Micawber. Same publishers, 1885.

The entire series of eighteen plates were republished in Mr.

Thomas Archer's "Charles d.i.c.kens: Gossip about his Life, Works, and Characters," issued by the same firm. Sixteen of these Character Sketches were subsequently reproduced in a cheap form, and presented to the readers of _Ca.s.sell's Family Magazine_ upon the occasion of its enlargement in December 1896.

PLATE LXVIII

ALFRED CROWQUILL (A. H. FORRESTER)

From a Photograph by

J. F. KNIGHTS

FREDERICK BARNARD, R.I.

From a Photograph by

J. W. ROLLER

_Lent by Mrs. F. Barnard._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Two series of "Character Sketches," reproduced by photogravure, were included in "Gebbie's Select Portfolios of Literature and Art," Gebbie & Husson Co.

(Limited), Philadelphia, 1888-89. Eighteen of these were executed from the above designs by F. Barnard, five from drawings by other artists, and one from a photograph, the six additional subjects being portraits of characters not comprised in Barnard's gallery, viz., Henry Irving as Jingle, Mr. Toole as the Artful Dodger, Lotta as the Marchioness, Jo the Crossing-Sweeper, Newman Noggs, Mr.

Squeers and Mr. Snawley, Montagu Tigg introduces himself to Martin Chuzzlewit and Tom Pinch.

The India-Proof Edition was issued in portfolios, green and buff, with embossed design in gold and colour.

THE SHAKESPEARE-d.i.c.kENS COMBINATION COMPANY.--Published in _Lika Joko_, an Ill.u.s.trated Weekly Conducted by Harry Furniss, from November 17, 1894, to February 23, 1895.

W. G. BAXTER.

STUDIES FROM CHARLES d.i.c.kENS. Two series of portraits of the princ.i.p.al characters, twenty-two in each series. Published in _Momus_, an ill.u.s.trated comic weekly periodical, Manchester, from September 25, 1879, to February 2, 1882. A selection from these portraits were reprinted in _C. H.

Ross's Variety Paper_, February 1888.

C. B. BRACEWELL.