Sir john tenniel alice in wonderland
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It’s high time I write about THE most important illustrator of Alice in Wonderland, Sir John Tenniel. The first illustrator of Alice (although one could argue that Dodgson is the first one), the one chosen by Carroll himself to bring his creation to life. In many ways, Tenniel, made the template for the hundreds of illustrators of Alice that came to follow, and were inspired by his design.
Why haven’t I written about him yet, and why do so now? First of all, I don’t have an early edition of Alice in Wonderland. Famously, the extremely coveted and super rare 1865 true first edition, out in 2,000 copies, was withdrawn by Carroll, to Tenniel’s request, as he wasn’t pleased with the quality of the print. At his own expense, Dodgson aka Carroll, had them reprinted, and of this particular edition, only a handful remain (22 copies known to exist).
When I go through antique book shops, I always look for a forgotten copy, a lost treasure, maybe an inscribed o
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Iconic images of wit and wonder, Sir John Tenniel’s illustrations for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are as magical today as when first published a little over 150 years ago.
An amateur artist himself (and, by all accounts, something of an egoist), Lewis Carroll had originally intended for his own illustrations to accompany his extraordinary text of Alice’s tales, and it was not without delicate persuasion bygd the author’s friend of his artistic deficiency that Carroll sought out a professional draughtsman.
John Tenniel, lead cartoonist for the politically mischievous Punch magazine, had already established a reputation for classical precision in his sketches, in which humour, composition, and execution of the image were treated with equal respect. A keen reader of the publication, Carroll knew his work well, and before long the pair had agreed on a collaboration.
Initially, their working relationship was fractious. A stubborn Tenniel fo
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The Victorian artist John Tenniel (1820 – 1914) is most famous for his vivid illustrations for the books 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) and 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There' (1871), written by Lewis Carroll. While these iconic illustrations continue to inspire amusement, wonder and creativity for readers around the world, there was more to Tenniel than 'Alice'.
Spanning more than 50 years, Tenniel's artistic career was fascinatingly varied. He was renowned for his work as a long-standing political cartoonist for the satirical magazine Punch, as well as completing commissions for the V&A (then the South Kensington Museum). His intelligent, detailed style elevated the fame and standing of cartoonists immeasurably.
John Tenniel began his career by studying fine art at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. He faithfully copied sculpture, illustrations from books of costume and heraldry, and scenes of live performance. He had a gift for de