| Method | Wood Engraving |
| Artist | Dalziel Brothers |
| Published | [George Routledge & Sons, London, 1883] |
| Dimensions | Image 96 x 100 mm, Sheet 130 x 127 mm |
| Notes |
A proof printing from the Dalziel's Borthers illustrated edition of Daniel Defoe's "The Life and Adventures if Robinson Crusoe". Robinson Crusoe is stranded alone on an island after several tragedies at sea, and has built himself a hut, wears fur clothing to keep himself warm and has taken to the habit of reading the Bible, journalling his experiences and reflect on his life. He is seated by a table, reading, with a candle before him and a basket with clothes on the floor next to him. He is caught by surprise and looks up from his book to facing the viewer. The published illustration appears on page 193 of the book, originally accompanied by part of the story: "It was the middle of May, on the sixteenth day, I think [...] that it blew a very great stornm of wind all day, with a great deal of lightnigh and thunder, and a very foul night it was after it. I knew not what the particular occassion of it; but as I was reading in the Bible, and taken up with very serious thoughts about my present condition, I was surprised with the noise of a gun, as I thought, fired at sea." The Brothers Dalziel were a highly productive firm of Victorian engravers founded in 1839 by George Dalziel (1815-1902) and his brother Edward Dalziel (1817-1905). They were later joined by John Dalziel and Thomas Dalziel (1823-1906). All were sons of the artist, Alexander Dalziel of Wooler in Northumberland. The Dalziel brothers worked with many important Victorian artists, producing illustrations for the burgeoning magazine and book market of the period. Among the artists they worked with were Arthur Boyd Houghton, Richard Doyle, John Gilbert, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and James McNeill Whistler. They cut the illustrations to Edward Lear's 'Book of Nonsense' (1862), Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass'. They also produced independent ventures, most notably 'The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ', (Routledge, 1864), illustrated by Millais, and contributed humorous cartoons to magazines such as 'Fun', which George and Edward acquired in 1865. Condition: Creasing to edges of the sheet and corners. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £75.00 |
| Stock ID | 47151 |