Subject: ‘Illustrators’

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Illustration Art Gallery Show in Central London

Posted in Art, Illustrators on Sunday, 14 November 2010

Trigan Empire

The Illustration Art Gallery is holding its first-ever Christmas show in Central London showcasing a selection of the finest work of British illustrators of the 20th century, including discoveries from the Look and Learn archive.

The exhibition is taking place from 14 to 19 December 2010 (10am to 7pm daily) at 8 Duke Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6BN.  For further information, visit www.illustrationartgallery.com or email art@illustrationartgallery.com or telephone +44 (0)20 8768 0022.

Among the artists featured will be: Angus McBride, Frank Bellamy, Frank Hampson, Graham Coton, Ron Embleton, James McConnell, John Millar Watt, Jim Holdaway, Reg Smythe, Philip Mendoza, Wilf Hardy, Don Lawrence, Oliver Frey, Cecil Doughty, Jack Hayes and Fortunio Matania.  Prices range from £75 to £5,000.

The exhibition will include for sale a number of pieces of outstanding Trigan Empire artwork, one of which, by Ron Embleton, is illustrated here.  These must rank among the finest examples of comic strip art ever produced.

Overall, this is not a show to be missed.

Birth of William Hogarth

Posted in Anniversary, Art, Illustrators on Saturday, 30 October 2010

picture, William Hogarth, artist

William Hogarth’s first satirical works were inspired by a tavern brawl

10 November marks the anniversary of the birth of William Hogarth in 1697. Born in London, Hogarth was apprenticed to an engraver and entertained himself by sketching characters and scenes he saw around the metropolis. He became best known for his satirical prints, which made fun of contemporary society. His work became more moralizing in the 1730s with A Harlot’s Progress and A Rake’s Progress and his later works such as Beer Street and Gin Lane and The Four Stages of Cruelty encouraged social change. He died in 1764, aged 66.

Many more pictures relating to Hogarth and his works can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

Death of William Blake

Posted in Anniversary, Art, Illustrators, Literature on Monday, 2 August 2010

picture, William Blake portrait

A portrait of William Blake. Illustration by Ralph Bruce

12 August marks the anniversary of the death of poet and painter William Blake in 1827. Born in London in 1757, Blake was apprenticed to an engraver before attending the Royal Academy. Although he worked hard as an illustrator and painter and was writing books of poetry, he became more famous posthumously. Critics now acclaim the expressiveness and creativity of his work and its philosophical and mystical symbolism is widely studied.

picture, William Blake, a guide to writers and their work

William Blake, a guide to writers and their work

More images relating to William Blake can be found here. A wider range of illustrations relating to art and artists can also be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

Birth of Rembrandt

Posted in Anniversary, Art, Illustrators on Monday, 5 July 2010

picture, Rembrandt painting his famous portrait of the Civic Guardsmen

Rembrandt painting his famous portrait of the Civic Guardsmen. Illustration by Angus McBride

15 July is the anniversary of the birth of Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Rembrandt, born in Leiden in 1606, became a successful portrait painter in his youth but, as he became more famous, he began to have affairs and live beyond his means. He continued to work but in reduced circumstances. Rembrandt died in 1669 and was buried in an unmarked grave.

More pictures relating to Rembrandt can be found here. A wider selection of illustrations relating to painters and artists can be found at the Look and Learn picture library.

Alexander the Great

Posted in History, Illustrators on Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Alexander the Great on Bucephalus

Alexander the Great on Bucephalus by James E McConnell

Besides the mosaic in the Archeological Museum in Naples, there are suprisingly few great pictures of Alexander the Great.  We have recently created a picture set of the best of those in the Look and Learn picture library.

Above is an illustration of Alexander riding his horse Becephalus.  It is by James E McConnell.

Hannibal

Posted in Geography, History, Illustrators, Nature on Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Hannibal crossing the Alps by Severino Baraldi

Hannibal crossing the Alps by Severino Baraldi

We have recently been creating a picture set comprising our best illustrations of Hannibal.  It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Severino Baraldi outstrips all other illustrators of this subject.  Above is his depiction of the iconic scene of Hannibal crossing the Alps.

Birth of artist John Constable

Posted in Anniversary, Art, Illustrators on Tuesday, 1 June 2010

picture John Constable preparing a painting

John Constable preparing a painting, illustrated by Frank Lea

11 June is the anniversary of the birth of British artist John Constable in 1776, best known for his landscape paintings. Many of them were of locations around Dedham Vale, which, even today, is known as Constable Country.

His most famous painting is The Hay Wain, painted in 1821.

The Haywain, picture, image, illustration

More pictures of John Constable and his paintings can be found here. Many other illustrations relating to art and artists from the Stone Age onwards can be found at the following link.

Robert Browning – 7 May

Posted in Illustrators, Literature, Travel on Thursday, 6 May 2010

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Venice

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Venice

The nineteenth century English poet, Robert Browning, was born on 7 May 1812.

Here, to recall this anniversary, is a picture of Robert Browning and his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browing, in a gondola in Venice.

The artist is Arthur A Dixon.

For other pictures of Robert Browning – as well as illustrations for his poems, such as the Pied Piper – click here.

HMS Victory – 7 May

Posted in Anniversary, History, Illustrators on Thursday, 6 May 2010

HMS Victory

HMS Victory in full sail

HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson’s flagship, was launched at Chatham on 7 May 1765.

Here, to recall this anniversary, is a fine picture of HMS Victory in full sail. The artist is Andrew Howat.

For further pictures of HMS Victory, including many pictures of the Battle of Trafalgar, click here.

Hindenburg disaster – 6 May

Posted in Anniversary, Aviation, History, Illustrators on Thursday, 6 May 2010

Destruction of the Hindenburg

Destruction of the Hindenburg

On 6 May 1937 the German airship Hindenburg exploded as it was landing in New Jersey, USA.

On this anniversary, we are posting a picture illustrating the Hindendburg’s last moments.  The artist is Gerry Wood.

Airships, particularly their disasters, are well covered in the Look and Learn picture library.  To see more, click here.