Tenniel, Sir John

[Tenniel, Sir John- After. Fabulous Artwork] Set of Nine Pen-and-Ink Illustrations for the Celebrated Punch Magazine, 1865 and 1870, on "1866 Joynson" watermarked paper

Nine Pen-and-Ink Humorous Illustrations by an accompllished copyist, for “Punch,” each is on a sheet, 28 by 25 cm, with the illustration proper being approx. 20 by 17 cm. Dates for when the illustrations appeared in “Punch” are written in pencil in a lower corner for all but two. Five of the cartoons originally appeared in 1865, two, in 1870, and the final two, unknown. The illustrations depict the work of Tenniel, are original pen and ink drawings, but are not original Tenniel drawings, for the following reasons: Tenniel rarely worked in ink, as for example all of the ALICE and LOOKING-GLASS drawings are done in pencil. And perhaps more to the point, the images copy the details and cross-hatchings that the Dalziel Brothers injected into Tenniel’s drawings to develop them fully. Consequently, we must conclude that the printed woodcut images were used as models, rather than the more loosely sketched drawings which would have been created by Tenniel. Apart from this, the drawings are of superb quality, and contemporary to printing (viz watermarks) and feature virtuous maidens, exotic rulers from far-off lands, absurd politicians, aloof goddesses, man and children (well-known personages depicted as children with oversized heads) and other clownish characters, etc. “A frequent subject of caricature was Louis Napoleon, who was in the latter phase of his reign, or the Second Empire, his mustache and angular features about as low-lying fruit as can be had in caricature. These drawings are unsigned, and are most definitely images that appear in Punch by Tenniel. However, since Tenniel was known to do much of his drafting work in pencil, we think it likely that Tenniel did not execute these pen-and-ink renderings firsthand, although they were off his designs. Specifically, the Dalziel Brothers may have had a hand in these renderings-- this has been suggested by one expert; but proof one way or another is virtually impossible. Even if that were the case, these are not printed, and they all are done with consummate skill. The sheets are loose, and the watermark “1866, Joynson” appears in the paper. A touch of light wear and soiling. Near fine.

Price: $2,250.00   Item #6365