19th century print,William Holman Hunt, caricature by Spy (Leslie Ward)Vanity Fair(19 July 1879)

Description

Highly collectable original Victorian art celebrity chromolithograph print from 1879.

Titled: _The Pre-Raphaelite of the World [Mr William Holman Hunt]_ by Spy (19 July 1879). (The date is printed above the image).

It is an original caricature of the famous English oil painter William Holman Hunt which appeared in print in Vanity Fair ( London) on 19 July 1879.

The title is a play on the title of one of Mr. Holman Hunt's most celebrated paintings, The Light of the World (begun 1849 or 1850--completed 1854) (Jesus holding a lamp at his feet by moonlight and knocking at a door, representing his invitation to enter into a life of faith).

Hunt's original version of the painting was first engraved in 1860 and widely disseminated in print media globally during his lifetime.

It takes as its theme a well-known phrase from the Gospels of Matthew and John in which Jesus and the disciples describe their role as spiritual guides for humanity using the metaphor of light ("I am the light of the world, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. " John 8:12)(Matthew 5: 14-16). The painting also references Revelation, 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. The phrase suggests that following Jesus offers a path away from human sin, ignorance, and spiritual confusion (darkness), guiding people towards truth and eternal life (light).

Holman Hunt's painting made him a global art celebrity in his own day and was painted in a Pre-Raphaelite style with an emphasis, in this case, on effects of moonlight, dawn, and lamplight by night painted out of doors.

The Victorian high society magazine _Vanity Fair, A Weekly Show of Political, Social and Literary Wares_, in which this caricature appeared was founded by Thomas Gibson Bowles, published in London, and ran weekly from 1868 to 1914. It was known for it's coverage of fashion, theatre, current events (politics) and social scandals.

But it was best known for its full page caricatures of society figures, suitable for framing.

This London weekly helped create and shape the idea of celebrity culture in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.


Holman Hunt had co-founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 with Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Everett Millais and a few other men. They were rebelling against the indoor studio painting tradition taught at the Royal Academy. Instead, they championed painting out of doors from nature in bright colors on (in some instances) a wet white ground, such that their paintings appeared to be lit from within. They were heralded as Modern Painters in a new English school of art by the art critic John Ruskin who linked their use of color to the late work of JMW Turner (d. 1851).

Holman Hunt was known for works like The Hireling Shepherd (1851), Valentine Rescuing Sylvia from Proteus (1851), Our English Coasts (1852) and The Awakening Conscience (1853).

The print in this auction is a genuine antique chromolithograph (colour) cartoon/caricature print from the Victorian magazine _Vanity Fair_ by the well-known caricaturist Ape (Carlo Pellegrini).

Included in this sale are: the original caricature page (which is fully matted and backed - window mat) as well as the original biographical notes published with the print on a facing page in the Victorian magazine, Vanity Fair.

Frame and glazing are not included.

This Victorian print was originally matted by and purchased from Story's Ltd., 3 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ

It is an authentic historic print, published at the date stated above. It is not a modern copy.



Dimensions:


Print:
Height: 13 inches (33cm)

Width: 7.5 inches (19cm)

Overall page:

Height: 15inches (37cm)

Width: 10 inches (25cm)

Overall dimensions of mat inside the frame:

Height: 17 inches

Width: 12 inches



Collection from CB1 1LH (centre Cambridge) or CB21 (Fulbourn). Or by post. If you'd prefer to collect, let us know before paying so we can issue a new invoice.

Posted: 4 days ago

Ad ID: 1494882478