A biography of the political and social artist who became representative of nineteenth-century Britain.George Cruikshank's (1792-1878) etchings and wood-engravings graced the pages of such classics as Grimms' Fairy Tales and Dickens' Oliver Twist, campaigned in the propaganda war against Napoleon, and satirised his times, becoming representative of the age. His life crossed paths with Britain's primary political, social, and cultural leaders, yet he experienced a long struggle for recognition of his imaginative, versatile and incisive images.In the concluding volume of this comprehensive biography, Patten examines Cruikshank's collaborations with renowned writers such as Harrison Ainsworth, Charles Dickens, and William Makepeace Thackeray. Focussing on his illustrated periodicals, including the long-standing Comic Almanack, as well as his advocacy of Temperance, Patten sketches the context of Cruikshank's art through his subjects, motifs, mediums, treatments, publishers and audiences. Engaging with the contradictory and crisis-filled latter years of Cruikshank's life, Patten reveals the great artist's refashioning in the Victorian Era.
ROBERT L. PATTEN is the Lynette S. Autrey Professor Emeritus of Humanities at Rice University, and writes primarily about Victorian literature, graphic arts, and print culture, including multiple books about Charles Dickens.
IllustrationsPreface: To the ReaderAcknowledgementsChronologyProloguePhase 1: "Cradled in Caricature," 1792-18201. What's in a Name?2. All My Relatives Were Scots3. A Naughty Boy4. A Picture of Fife5. What Can You Do, If Your Pelvis is Wrong?6. George Cruikshank Invenit7. Too Much Fun of Too Many Things8. The Pursuit and Torment of "Little Boney"9. "Twit, Twittle, Twit": The Trials of William Hone10. The Most Important Design I Ever Made11. The Dandy of Sixty12. A Very Tar in ArtPhase 2: "The Finest Things, Next To Rembrandt's," 1820-183513. Late Hours, Blue Ruin, and Dollies14. Epigrams of Design15. A Thorough-bred Artist16. A Sketching Dante17. To Work - "With a Will"18. A Work Begun in Sadness19. Indestructible as Punch20. Thumbnail Designs21. An "Average-European" Style22. Drawing in Albums23. Prince of Humorous Designers24. The Arch and Able PencilGenealogiesConcerning Transcriptions and ReferencesNotesGeneral IndexIndex of Cruikshank's WorksGeorge Cruikshank's Life, Times and Art, Volume II: 1835-1878IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsChronologyPhase 3: "Immortal George," 1835-185125. Middle-Class Characters26. A Picture of Every-Day London27. Oliver Twist and the "Apples of Discord"28. Almost in Love with Roguery29. The Tower! Is the Word-Forward to the Tower!30. The "Hoc" Goes Down31. The Triumph of Cupid32. Portraits of the Artist33. Masterpieces Worthy of the Greatest Painter34. England is not California35. I am Become a Name36. Losing by Almost Every SpeculationPhase 4: "George Cruikshank, Artist," 1851-187837. Hitting Right and Left38. Whole Hogism39. Knock Down Blows40. Write Me Down an Ass41. The Volunteers42. Diagrams of Drunkenness43. Surely There Never Were Such Times!!!44. I am Looked Upon as a Fanatic45. Celtic Strains46. Disappointment. on Disappointment47. The Venerable George48. George the 1st and LastEpilogueGenealogyEmendataConcerning Transcriptions and ReferencesNotesBibliographyGeneral IndexIndex of Cruikshank's WorksAbout the Author
Robert Patten, in his two-volume George Cruikshank's Life, Times, and Art, creates an authoritative source for the new century.