Part 34 (1/2)

Mr. Gibson's drawings of d.i.c.kens subjects have been excellently reproduced on both sides of the Atlantic.

APPENDIX

III

d.i.c.kENS IN ART

Paintings of Scenes and Characters in d.i.c.kens's Novels--Portraits of Dolly Varden and Kate Nickleby Painted for the Novelist by Mr. W. P. Frith, R.A.--A Humorous Advertis.e.m.e.nt--Sale of the Two Pictures--Mr. Frith's Recollections--Mr. James Hamilton Presents to d.i.c.kens his Sketch of ”What are the Wild Waves Saying?”--The Artist Rewarded for his Generosity--Water-Colour Drawings by Charles Green--How they Originated--An Interesting Series.

The novels of Charles d.i.c.kens are an interminable storehouse of subjects for pictures, so it is not surprising that they have always exercised a fascination over painters. The following is a list merely of those pictures that have come under my notice,--a collection which, doubtless, could be much amplified by reference to the catalogues of the Royal Academy and other important Art galleries.

W. A. ATKINSON.--”Little Nell and the two Gravediggers”

(”The Old Curiosity Shop”). Royal Academy, 1856.

FRED. BARNARD.--”Sidney Carton” (”A Tale of Two Cities”).

Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1882.

”Horatio Sparkins” (”Sketches by Boz”). Inst.i.tute of Painters in Water-Colours, 1885.

W. H. BARTLETT.--”'The sea, Floy, what is it always Saying?'” (”Dombey and Son”).

EDGAR BUNDY, R.I.--”Barnaby Rudge at the Country Justice's.”

Inst.i.tute of Painters in Oil-Colours, 1896.

R. W. BUSS.--”Peerybingle, Dot, and Tilly s...o...b..y” (”The Cricket on the Hearth”).

”Joe Willet taking leave of Dolly Varden” (”Barnaby Rudge”).

”Trotty Veck and his Dinner” (”The Chimes”). (_See p. 55._)

G. CATTERMOLE.--”Little Nell's Home” (”The Old Curiosity Shop”), 1842.

”Little Nell's Grave” (companion picture), 1842. (_See p.

134._)

HORACE H. CAUTY.--”Bebelle looking out for the Corporal”

(”Somebody's Luggage”). Society of British Artists, 1880.

HERBERT d.i.c.kSEE. ”The Grandfather at the Grave of Little Nell.” Royal Academy, 1887.

W. MAW EGLEY.--”The Marchioness Playing Cribbage in d.i.c.k Swiveller's Sick-Room” (”The Old Curiosity Shop”). Royal Academy, 1898.

F. EDWIN ELWELL.--”Charles d.i.c.kens and Little Nell.” A bronze group, purchased by the Fairmount Park Art a.s.sociation for the Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, U.S.A. The figure of Little Nell was exhibited at the Art Club, Philadelphia, and awarded the Gold Medal, while the entire group obtained a prize at the Columbian Exhibition. When exhibited in England, this work of Art met with warm approval, and the sculptor offered it to the London County Council, but the emphatic wish of d.i.c.kens (as expressed in his Will) prohibited their acceptance of this interesting memorial.

W. P. FRITH, R.A.--”Dolly Varden,” 1843. Also _replicas_ and other portraits, including one representing her with Emma Haredale. (_See pp. 246-7._)