He is why all film versions of Alice in Wonderland fall short for me. Because I loved Tenniel's illustrations so much as a child everything else just doesn't work.
The one caricature with the leaving pilot (Bismarck no longer working for the new emperor Wilhelm/William 2nd) is so iconic that it became a staple in the german history schoolbooks.
Hi Pete, Thank You 🎉 for yet another phenomenal presentation of a great Illustrator!! I here by Knight You “Sir Pete Beard” 👸Smiles and Appreciation Nova
Hello and many thanks for your kind words and interest in the channel. 'Sir Pete' just doesn't sound right, though. On the other hand there is a 'Sir Mick' (Jagger).
To be quite honest, I only knew Tenniel through his illustrations on the Alice books. There was always a suspicion about a connection with Punch, but mainly because of his big heads and wonderful caricatures! Thank you for showing us so much more examples of his work! It turns out that I've seen more of him than I knew, but at the time I never knew this was him! You are so right in bringing him into the limelight, this King of Cross-hatching and so much more. My wife and I really enjoyed this episode!! A salute from The Netherlands!
Another superb edition of this wonderful series, celebrating a truly iconic set of images from this era. As a child, I pored over these memorable and slightly unsettling Alice illustrations, transfixed by their mixture of romance, the grotesque, and unearthliness. Your research is, as usual, astonishing. Thank you SO much once again, for such an enjoyable treat for our eyes and imaginations.
Πρωτογνώρισα τον Tenniel στην ελληνική έκδοση της Αλίκης στην χώρα των θαυμάτων. Ήταν για. μένα μια αποκαλυπτική γνωριμία με τον σουρεαλισμό που απο τότε με ακολουθεί. Δυστυχώς το παιδικό μου αυτό. βιβλίο χάθηκε με την πάροδο του χρόνου. Σας ευχαριστώ που μου την ξανά θυμίσατε . Είμαι πια 80 χρονών και οι παιδικές αναμνήσεις ένα υπέροχο δώρο.🎉🇬🇷🍉
I have been enchanted with Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, especially with Tenniel's illustrations since I first read it at the age of 7, my favorite illustration is of Alice and The Cheshire Cat, he truly had a long, successful career, thank you for sharing this with us all, hello from Orange County, CA 😊
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment. I'm pleased to see that his original version still resonates with so many who remember it from childhood.
This was great! I loved reading those Alice books as a child and especially enjoyed the illustrations. Thanks to this I just ordered a new copy so I can revisit them again.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. And i can guarantee you won;t be disappointed by visiting the books again - text and illustration in perfect harmony even if the two men were not.
1820 ... so long ago I can see why his work was a big hit. I like his animals TS 1:45 the hares & frogs are cute & humorous. He had a fine & long career & due to the popularity of *Alice* his work will not fade away any time soon looks like
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comment as usual. What I don;t undstand is how tgose animal images were so well done and lively but his other early more serious work was comparitively dull before Alice came along.
John Tenniel defined Alice in Wonderland as thoroughly as Sidney Paget defined Sherlock Holmes and W.W. Denslow defined the Wizard of Oz. Thank you Pete (I understand that you don't like to be called Mr Beard), for another enlightening video on a giant of illustration.
Hello and many thabks for your comment and appreciation. Both are very welcome. And I don't mind that much about being Mr. Beard - it just makes me feel as old as I actually am. With 'Pete' I can at least pretend.
I came to John Tenniel's work in reverse to most admirers. While in college in the 1960's I studied Punch Magazine in the 19th century for an Honor's Paper. I was amazed at his sharp wit accompanied and conveyed by his imaginative technique. His facial characteristics and provocative postures, gave his subjects true life . I only bought the Illustrated Alice much later in life and only because of my earlier experience with his work. He is unquestionably a great artist and political commentator. Thanks!!!
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. Yes, you must be one of very frw for whom Alice wasn;t the introduction to his work. I must confess I find some of his political work a but stiff and formal and for me the more imaginative absurdist images still stand out the most.
This presentation is parrticularly enjoyable for afficionados of Lewis Carroll. Discriminating among the well-chosen scenes for the two Alice adventures each of which is an old friend, and the political and satirical 'cartoons' is a feast! Thank you, Mr. Beard. Your work is one of the few A-list themes available this third decade of the 2000s.
@@petebeard yes in fact I was so thrilled I paused your video and jumped on eBay to find some punch collections , on there I found someone selling 8 volumes of books filled with Punch cartoons plus an additional newer book.. overall 18Kg of punch illustration for £3.99 ….but £20 postage! I came very close but decided I didn’t want more books. So back to enjoying your video I went.
Another great presentation Pete, many thanks. Some interesting insights in there, particluarly around the tense relationship between Tenniel and Caroll. It's also left we wanting to know more about the engraving process, about which I'm particularly ignorant.
Hello again and thanks for the appreciation. It seems you are not alone in your curiosity about the engraving process. Another viewer has suggested a video on the subject, and I'm tempted to give it a go somewhere down the line.
Thank you so much for this wider, more inclusive overview of Tenniel's illustrations. As always, you give more depth and substance to his complete work. Such a treat to see other sides of this artist. His satire was obvious in the Alice illustrations, but I wasn't aware of how political he was with Punch and other periodicals. As usual, your videos are such an education. Thanks again, Pete, for another lovely visual journey. Stay safe and healthy. Cheers!
Hi Doug and thanks as usual for the appreciation. I hope you are well and may I say that although I dont know what the weather is doing in your neck of the woods I bet it's a damn sight more ageeable than here. I'm seriously considering hibernation.
@@petebeard To he honest, it's bloody cold here, I'm toying with the idea of turning my heat on, but hesitating because I don't want to admit winter is close by. Just got over a bout of Covid but all is well. Quarantined for a week and a half but got lots if painting and writing done so I'm marking the time as a positive experience 😀. Stay safe and warm, my friend. You and the missus are always welcome here in the French South, but you may need your warm woolies. Looking forward to your next illustrator installment. Cheers!
Tenniel has always been a hero of mine, along with Sir Arthur Rackham and John R. Neill. I once replicated his illustrations line by line as an art exercise. Just great. Thankvyou.
Thanks again for the appreciation. And I don't know if you are aware of it but there's a full video about Rackham (which unfortunately I stupidly uploaded at standard definition ) and a small feature on O'Neill in unsung heroes 43.
Hello Pete, sometimes you give light to our knowledge, singing out "unsung héroes" and sometimes gives context to a "known" artist, this is the case, I know Tenniel in a soft manner, then, I saw his name in some Art book, now I really know who was, you're an encycopaedia for us....thanks for the unsseen - Next videos - that you are working just now ( not only for this )!
Hi again and thanks a lot for your continued appreciation. I will continue to make these videos as long as viewers like you will continue to watch them.
Hello again and thanks as usual for your appreciative comment. And so far it seems we have been spared the worst of the bad weather where we are. So it's just the usual cold and persistent rain. If only I could persuade my other half to emigrate....
I grew up on "Alice." One of my earliest memories is of my Mom reading me "The Annotated Alice" (which I still have!) and the Jabberwocky 9:12 gave me a few nightmares! I hadn't seen his other illustrations! Thanks so much!
Hello and thanks for the comment. Making playlists is something I keep meaning to do (although I'm not really sure what the point of them is) but keep forgetting to do anything about.
Great books often conjure up images in the mind of the reader that are hard to improve upon. Sometimes an illustrator, or film maker, can transport you to the world you had imagined in a way that seems perfect. Tenniel did this with the Alice books. Thanks again Pete for this terrific episode.
Hello to you and many thanks for the appreciation. And I don't know how many subsequent versions have been published but none I can think of rival the originals.
Thanks once again for shining a light on an illustrator whose work I obviously knew (through the Alice books of course) but whose name was new to me. It is interesting that, despite a hugely successful career in political satire, rather like his fellow Punch alumnus E. H. Shepherd, John Tenniel will forever be associated with works in which he is the less well known collaborator.
Hello and thanks for the comment and favourable response. It seems like it's the illustrators who write their own books who earn the greater recognition.
Thanks, Pete. I, like others here, knew Tenniel through his Alice in Wonderland illustration. I had seen his 'Dropping The Pilot,' but I was not aware that Tenniel was the artist. This shows Bismarck's dismissal by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Bismarck's last remarks to Wilhelm was never go to war with Britain, which is what Wilhelm did in 1914. As we know it did not end well for Wilhelm.
Hello again and thanks for your appreciation of the video. I must confess I've never really seen the merits of the Bismarck image, and always found it (like some of his other political and less fanciful images) a bit stiff and formal. The madder the better for me.
This is yet another wonderful video. Tenniel's depictions of the characters from the Alice books always seemed spot on to me. Like all great illustrators, he was more than just adept with a pencil. He possessed a vivid imagination and the ability translate his vision to paper. Thank you for the look at this man and his work.
Thank you very much, Pete Beard, for this marvelous video of yours showing Tenniel in all his glory - to me he will always be the illustrator of the Alice books, but it's good to know that he did so much with his political work ~
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video - and of course Tennuel's marvellous work. There are other versionso f Alice I like but the original remains the greatest for many of us.
Hi Pete.... thanks for another informative video. I really enjoy your videos and have learned a lot about artists that I have never known. This particular artist is excellent.
Dear Pete Beard, thank you so much for all the videos. They are always very interesting and are so complete. I have learned so much about my favorite artists and so many new ones. I have many books illustrated by these wonderful artists. I’ve enjoyed the videos so much.
I especially appreciate your giving credit to the engravers. If the illustrator had a poor engraver, the results could be devastating. And, during that period, the teamwork was very important. Also, the rare examples you find are amazing; I so appreciate the work you put into these videos. Your documentaries always blow me away, thank you so much!
Splendid. The edition of Carroll's Alice books I've read is illustrated by Tenniel. It must be a very, very special experience for an artist to illustrate Alice's adventures.
Wonderful, just loved his iconic work with Lewis Carroll, thank-you so much for reviewing his artwork. Even though their partnership on Alice in Wonderland may have been difficult-- it is classic! Strong minds seldom want to be led.
Hi and thanks for another appreciative comment. And it does make me wonder whether the tensions between them actually got the best out of Tenniel, if only to demostrate to Lewis Carroll just how much he needed a real illustrator to bring his stories to life.
Another wonderful presentation of a favorite artist. As a young designer, I used to practice my pen and ink skills by copying the "Alice" illustrations. Years later, as a set designer, I was approached by a local ballet company to design their "Alice in Wonderland" ballet. Naturally, my set was a giant book with huge Tenniel illustrations. The proscenium arch I filled with life sized cutouts of all the characters. I wish there was a way to show you the few photos I have.
Absolutely incredible and very captivating. I appreciate the expertise and the variety of illustrations that he blessed us with, with such artistry and so many different types of subjects and influences . Thanks Pete for the indepth study of his works and creativity. ❤
Like so many, I too had a copy of Lewis Carrol's 'Alice in Wonderland' and the others. Enjoyed the illustrations, but never knew about the man behind the illustrations. Did he 'invent' the Punch mascot - the man with the beak nose - or did someone else? 11:31 His moustache alone deserves a Knighthood!
Well, of course, Punch was a well-known puppet character for at least a century before Tenniel illustrated him, and had been a _commedia dell' arte_ figure (Policinello) before that.
Hello and thanks for the comment and appreciation. The other comment is of course quite correct about the origins of Punch, but the character as depicted on the magazine was the creation of Richard 'Dicky' Doyle.
As the illustrator of the Alice books, John Tenniel is, of course, very well known. But what a wealth of information you added to this! Every bit of his work is exciting, funny, and entertaining in turn. I am amazed that this beloved and famous artist segment has relatively few views. But admittedly, this often baffles me with your videos. Always interesting, well researched and presented, there ought to be many more views and "likes". Thank you for the meticulous work.
Thanks for your zealous dedication to the channel, and don't get me started about views, likes and subscriptions. I'm not arrogant enough to think I can compete with the more sensationalist drivel that constitutes most youtube content, but I confess I share your bafflement at the relatively little attention some of my videos get. But I soldier on, and tell myself it's for posterity.
I remember finding the illustrations in Alice in Wonderland and Alice Though the Looking Glass made me feel very creepy. Perhaps they reminded me of the bad dreams I sometimes had as a young child. Like a fever dream. Now I see them as the products of a technically brilliant and highly imaginative person who manages creepy dream-like images extremely well.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. Your childhood response to Tenniel's illustratons - and those two books in general - mirrors my own, and I suspect many others. I find a lot of other Victorian work resonates in a similarly sinister way.
Hi again and thanks for the appreciation. It's always welcome. I must say it's one of the more frustrating things about engraving that it usually ruins the drawn original, so I couldn't show as much as I would have liked to.
Just subscribed to your excellent video channel on Illustrators. LOVE the information you share and how you professionally present it in such a visually engaging manner. Would love to connect with you about future project. Please let me know how to reach you directly. THANKS!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation and subsciption. Please don't be offended but I would not be happy posting my contact details on such a public forum as this. And I stick dggedly to my own little universe with a general policy of not getting involved in collaborations. Sorry to disappoint.
You are doing so much great work popularising the appreciation of illustration. Have you thought about approaching a publisher about curating a book on illustration, Pete?
Hello and thanks a lot for your favourable comment about the channel. And I have in fact recently been approached by a publisher but as a natural pessimist (and based on previous experience) it will more than likely come to nothing. All I can say is watch this space but be braced for disappointment. It's more likely I'll re-format ibto PDF for downlaoding in the future, if I ever find the time to do so.
One of the many interesting and admirable things of Tenniel's work as seen in this video is his depiction of people of color, unlike other illustrators and cartoonists of his era, and sadly later eras, he did not draw people of color as grotesque racist caricatures or villainous, but as real people.
Tenniel and I go back so far that it was a time I could do little beyond stare for what seemed like a long time at the Alice illustrations! But the redoubtable Miss Dee continued to enrich my growing life, and i remember discovering (with sarcastic pleasure) that all of Carroll's crazy poems (okay, not Jabberwocky, but everything else) were parodies of the poet laureate Robert Southey! But of Punch I chiefly remember "Dropping the Pilot," and, like other of your commenters, not realizing who the artist was. A fine and versatile creator almost reduced to one dimension by his one huge success -- somewhat as Leroy Anderson is increasingly reduced to "Sleigh Ride!"
Hello again and thanks for your comments about Tenniel's work. However hard I looked I was frustrated to not be able to discover whether he got to share in the royalties from the Carroll books, or if he was paid a flat fee. What a terrible irony it would have been (although he was obviously wealthy from his work anyway) if he had been just paid for the work, rather than its enduring global success.
@@petebeard Yeah...when Lucas was making Star Wars he didn't have the money to pay Carrie Fischer and whatever his name was that played Obi-Wan, so he got them to do it for a share of the proceeds!
Hello and thanks for the comment. And more thanks for the subject suggestion, which could make for an interesting video. But don't hold your breath. It's already a very long list and at the moment I'm taking a break from that kind of overview video for the simple reason that thay are by far the hardest tomake. But assuming I live long enough it will get made and I'm very grateful for the suggestion.
John Tenniel, Arthur Rackham, Albrecht Durer and Gustave Dore are my guiding lights as an artist. Well, with a bit of help from Burne Hogarth as a more direct teacher as well. I have not succeeded yet, but I hope to be a successful student of these timeless masters.
Hello and many thanks for your comment about this video. And thanks for introducing me to the work of Burne Hogarth, who I'm mildy embarrassed to admit was previously unaware of.
Tenniel’s Alice illustrations have captured the gist of the book perfectly - odd, different, compelling, with strange details. Above all, entertaining.
Great as usual Mr. B but you may be missing a trick. Do you have any information on the colour edition of the illustrated Alice? This is the version I grew with and in fact I was quite surprised to discover that most people know the pictures only in black and white. I'm pretty sure the colours where done by Tenniel himself but this copy is sadly long lost and I've never seen it on sale since.
How's this for a quick response? I just happened to be checking comments and saw yours, and I'm sorry to disappoint but the colour version was not created by Tenniel. They did use his original engraved monochromes as the basis of this version but the edition was hand coloured in 1937, long after his death. I can't remember who did colour them but I didn't think it was a valid inclusion.
I love this channel. I once saw a map that laid out a sort of history of rock bands (at least reasonably successful ones anyway) and the most influential rock banks were in big circles, with lines pointing to all the bands they'd influenced. It was a fairly messy map, but it showed how a small number of massively influential bands led to the evolution of rock music from the 1960's or so through the 2010's. I would LOVE to see something similar for illustration. Such as, was Thomas Nast really the most influential illustrator, or did he take after someone else? When people said Neal Adams in the 1970's redefined comic book drawings and everyone was being called a "Neal Adams clone", was Neal really basic his work on someone I don't know about? I can't find any such map of illustrators but I bet you, Pete Beard, would know if one exists! Thanks!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. And I remember the rock family trees (assuming that's what you refer to) by Pete Frame.If there is such a thing for illustration I certainly don't know about it. And tempted as I am the notion of taking on such an epic undertaking at my time of life just seems too daunting - but it is a fascinating concept nevertheless.
When I was a child, we had a 20 volume set of the Books of Knowledge which were a bit like a set of encyclopedias, but not arranged alphabetically. Featured throughout the volumes were Aesop's Fables (some illustrated) and The book of Childrens Stories which included the Alice tales. I am fairly certain Tenniel's illustrations were present. The books were published around 1920.
Thanks for the comment. And you are certainly correct about Tenniel still appearing in print around that time. Publishers really got value for money out of his work - and that of others - right through the 20th century.
I don't know about the truth or otherwise of it but it has certainly been said that this is the case. I can see Disraeli (with odd chin beard) in the Unicorn, but the Gladstone lion is a little less obvious - perhaps the grim downward turn of the mouth?
Hey Pete, can I know where do you get all those images from the internet? These are the websites that I know of at the moment, perhaps there's something helpfull: - The internet archive. - Mutualart. - Meisterdrucke. - Artnet. - Sulis fine art (this one is probably not helpfull). Hope you're doing fine. By the way, this comment has alredy been punlished in your previous video, but I'm not sure wether you check comments of older videos so apologies if this is anoying in any way.
Hello and the places I dig stuff up from is way too diverse to list, and seems to change depending on who/what I'm looking for,but you list some good ones in your comment -particularly the internet archive. I can recommend the LOC and V&A sites (although the latter is as frustrating as it is useful, and beyond that try the national library archives of major European cities.
Hello and yes you can request Bewick, although he would be some way down my list of priorities, as although I respect and admire him for his contribution I can't actually say he's among my personal favourites. And there's a long line of others already in progress, who I'm considerably keener on. That doesn't mean I won't cover him, though and I thank you for the suggestion.
I've already congratulated Pete Beard on his videos finding them entertaining and interesting. But there is a much more important element - many of illustrators and their work were unknown to me prior to watching the presentations. And I reckon they would be unknown to many others as well and it's good these illustrators of the past and their work is recognised. I'm wondering if a major art gallery would want these videos for their archive and for visitors to see - just a thought.
Hello again and my enduring gratitude to you for your comments about the channel. It would be nice to think of the videos being archived that way but given how little value seems to be place on illustration as opposed to fine art I doubt many would be interested.
Artist century. On the spot, drawing illustrated. Skill talented! Dremendus Great!❤ up esy art no talen depending in computer age sad only speed in A i😢
Unfortunately my indifference to typographic nuance means I don't even see these issues until they are pointed out. By which time of course the horse has bolted.
Hi, excellent video, however you failed to mention or show John Tenniels anti Irish sentiment. You said his political cartoons were never needlessly aggressive however I beg to differ. His cartoons made us Irish out to be ape like and a sub species of human, when we were fighting for our freedom from an aggressive empire, which was always portrayed as paternal. Additionally I dont buy the excuse he was told what to draw. His legacy is unfortunately tainted with this anti irish bigotry.
Hello and you are right of course. But from my perspective it seems I simply can't win. I left that aspect of his work out in order to not cause offence, as I have been berated on several occasions by viewers for including works in my videos showing such vilification of other nations and races. By his 'political' cartoons I referred only to his depictions of actual politicians.
@@petebeard Hi Pete, I understand. It's a pity history has to be watered down. Your video is excellent. I strongly urge you to tell his whole story though. In Ireland right now there is a rise of anti immigrant sentiment. Must as there was in Britain in the 1850s. It important we remember history and learn from it. Again though, excellent video.
He is why all film versions of Alice in Wonderland fall short for me. Because I loved Tenniel's illustrations so much as a child everything else just doesn't work.
Hello and thanks for the comment. I feel precisely the same about those images, and Shepard's Winnie the Pooh and Wind in the Willows.
Totally agreed!!
The one caricature with the leaving pilot (Bismarck no longer working for the new emperor Wilhelm/William 2nd) is so iconic that it became a staple in the german history schoolbooks.
Hello and thanks for the comment. I didn't realise it resonated in Germany too.
Accolades - Plenty!
The discovery of so many influential artists and history are so much appreciated!
Hi again and your comments are always welcome.
Saving this until later tonight, as a treat.
Your videos are some of the very best material online. I always learn something from them. Keep at it.
Hello and thanks for your comment. I hope you aren't disappointed when you watch it.
Hi Pete, Thank You 🎉 for yet another phenomenal presentation of a great Illustrator!! I here by Knight You “Sir Pete Beard” 👸Smiles and Appreciation Nova
Hello and many thanks for your kind words and interest in the channel. 'Sir Pete' just doesn't sound right, though. On the other hand there is a 'Sir Mick' (Jagger).
@@petebeard Welcome, Yes Sir Pete ( takes sOMe getting use to ) Smiles Lady Nova 💖
To be quite honest, I only knew Tenniel through his illustrations on the Alice books. There was always a suspicion about a connection with Punch, but mainly because of his big heads and wonderful caricatures! Thank you for showing us so much more examples of his work! It turns out that I've seen more of him than I knew, but at the time I never knew this was him! You are so right in bringing him into the limelight, this King of Cross-hatching and so much more. My wife and I really enjoyed this episode!! A salute from The Netherlands!
Hello and thanks a lot to both of you. It really makes my day to know that viewers appreciate the content of these videos.
Another superb edition of this wonderful series, celebrating a truly iconic set of images from this era. As a child, I pored over these memorable and slightly unsettling Alice illustrations, transfixed by their mixture of romance, the grotesque, and unearthliness.
Your research is, as usual, astonishing. Thank you SO much once again, for such an enjoyable treat for our eyes and imaginations.
Hello and I'm really very grateful for your appreciation of the channel and its content. Thanks a lot for your continuing support.
I’m so glad his Alice illustrations are still being published and are the iconic visuals for those classic stories.
Hello and thanks for the comment. And yes the original remains the greatest by far.
Πρωτογνώρισα τον Tenniel στην ελληνική έκδοση της Αλίκης στην χώρα των θαυμάτων. Ήταν για. μένα μια αποκαλυπτική γνωριμία με τον σουρεαλισμό που απο τότε με ακολουθεί. Δυστυχώς το παιδικό μου αυτό. βιβλίο χάθηκε με την πάροδο του χρόνου. Σας ευχαριστώ που μου την ξανά θυμίσατε . Είμαι πια 80 χρονών και οι παιδικές αναμνήσεις ένα υπέροχο δώρο.🎉🇬🇷🍉
Ευχαριστώ και πάλι για τη συνεχή υποστήριξή σας στο κανάλι. Και χαίρομαι που απολαύσατε αυτή τη ματιά στο έργο του ιδιοφυούς Tenniel.
I have been enchanted with Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, especially with Tenniel's illustrations since I first read it at the age of 7, my favorite illustration is of Alice and The Cheshire Cat, he truly had a long, successful career, thank you for sharing this with us all, hello from Orange County, CA 😊
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment. I'm pleased to see that his original version still resonates with so many who remember it from childhood.
This was great! I loved reading those Alice books as a child and especially enjoyed the illustrations. Thanks to this I just ordered a new copy so I can revisit them again.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. And i can guarantee you won;t be disappointed by visiting the books again - text and illustration in perfect harmony even if the two men were not.
Aaah the genius who made me love the nib and a pot of ink, another triumph from mr. Beard….👏👏👏
Hello and many thanks for the comment and appreciation.
1820 ... so long ago I can see why his work was a big hit. I like his animals TS 1:45 the hares & frogs are cute & humorous. He had a fine & long career & due to the popularity of *Alice* his work will not fade away any time soon looks like
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comment as usual. What I don;t undstand is how tgose animal images were so well done and lively but his other early more serious work was comparitively dull before Alice came along.
John Tenniel defined Alice in Wonderland as thoroughly as Sidney Paget defined Sherlock Holmes and W.W. Denslow defined the Wizard of Oz. Thank you Pete (I understand that you don't like to be called Mr Beard), for another enlightening video on a giant of illustration.
Hello and many thabks for your comment and appreciation. Both are very welcome. And I don't mind that much about being Mr. Beard - it just makes me feel as old as I actually am. With 'Pete' I can at least pretend.
@@petebeardTempus fugit/Time flys...😊😊
I came to John Tenniel's work in reverse to most admirers. While in college in the 1960's I studied Punch Magazine in the 19th century for an Honor's Paper. I was amazed at his sharp wit accompanied and conveyed by his imaginative technique. His facial characteristics and provocative postures, gave his subjects true life . I only bought the Illustrated Alice much later in life and only because of my earlier experience with his work. He is unquestionably a great artist and political commentator. Thanks!!!
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. Yes, you must be one of very frw for whom Alice wasn;t the introduction to his work. I must confess I find some of his political work a but stiff and formal and for me the more imaginative absurdist images still stand out the most.
By far the best. I adore these illustrations. Same for Ernest Shepard. ❤❤❤
Hello and many thanks for your positive comment.
This presentation is parrticularly enjoyable for afficionados of Lewis Carroll. Discriminating among the well-chosen scenes for the two Alice adventures each of which is an old friend, and the political and satirical 'cartoons' is a feast! Thank you, Mr. Beard. Your work is one of the few A-list themes available this third decade of the 2000s.
Hello and your appreciation of this video and the channel is general is very welcome. Such comments really do make my day.
Wow this guy was impressive, you are correct his poses were incredible and he did all this with one good eye!! Incredible stuff.
Hello and I'm very pleased you see the remarkable qualities of his work
@@petebeard yes in fact I was so thrilled I paused your video and jumped on eBay to find some punch collections , on there I found someone selling 8 volumes of books filled with Punch cartoons plus an additional newer book.. overall 18Kg of punch illustration for £3.99 ….but £20 postage! I came very close but decided I didn’t want more books. So back to enjoying your video I went.
Another great presentation Pete, many thanks. Some interesting insights in there, particluarly around the tense relationship between Tenniel and Caroll. It's also left we wanting to know more about the engraving process, about which I'm particularly ignorant.
Hello again and thanks for the appreciation. It seems you are not alone in your curiosity about the engraving process. Another viewer has suggested a video on the subject, and I'm tempted to give it a go somewhere down the line.
@@petebeardthere is an engraving of a grinning Cheshire cat at Brimstage hall, unfortunately covered up at the moment...E...
Thank you so much for this wider, more inclusive overview of Tenniel's illustrations. As always, you give more depth and substance to his complete work. Such a treat to see other sides of this artist. His satire was obvious in the Alice illustrations, but I wasn't aware of how political he was with Punch and other periodicals. As usual, your videos are such an education. Thanks again, Pete, for another lovely visual journey. Stay safe and healthy. Cheers!
Hi Doug and thanks as usual for the appreciation. I hope you are well and may I say that although I dont know what the weather is doing in your neck of the woods I bet it's a damn sight more ageeable than here. I'm seriously considering hibernation.
@@petebeard To he honest, it's bloody cold here, I'm toying with the idea of turning my heat on, but hesitating because I don't want to admit winter is close by. Just got over a bout of Covid but all is well. Quarantined for a week and a half but got lots if painting and writing done so I'm marking the time as a positive experience 😀. Stay safe and warm, my friend. You and the missus are always welcome here in the French South, but you may need your warm woolies. Looking forward to your next illustrator installment. Cheers!
Superbly researched and presented, as always.
Hello and your appreciation is very welcome - thanks a lot.
Tenniel has always been a hero of mine, along with Sir Arthur Rackham and John R. Neill. I once replicated his illustrations line by line as an art exercise. Just great. Thankvyou.
Thanks again for the appreciation. And I don't know if you are aware of it but there's a full video about Rackham (which unfortunately I stupidly uploaded at standard definition ) and a small feature on O'Neill in unsung heroes 43.
Hello Pete, sometimes you give light to our knowledge, singing out "unsung héroes" and sometimes gives context to a "known" artist, this is the case, I know Tenniel in a soft manner, then, I saw his name in some Art book, now I really know who was, you're an encycopaedia for us....thanks for the unsseen - Next videos - that you are working just now ( not only for this )!
Hi again and thanks a lot for your continued appreciation. I will continue to make these videos as long as viewers like you will continue to watch them.
Amazing work! Thanks Pete.
Hello again and my thanks for the comment.
What an absolute delight this was. Thank you so much!
Hello and I'm very pleased you enjoyed it.
Always a treat to see notifications for your next video. Always a highlight, no matter how a day is going.
Hello again and thanks for your continued interest in the channel content. Very much appreciated.
Fantastic video. What a wonderful illustrator!
I’ve seen the awful videos of the storms/hurricane in the UK! I hope you are ok! 🤞🙏🏼
❤ SayessDesign
Hello again and thanks as usual for your appreciative comment. And so far it seems we have been spared the worst of the bad weather where we are. So it's just the usual cold and persistent rain. If only I could persuade my other half to emigrate....
@@petebeard Where would you go? You can visit us in Florida. We have a guest room.
Thank you Pete, I love your videos.
Hello and my thanks to you for your appreciation.
I grew up on "Alice." One of my earliest memories is of my Mom reading me "The Annotated Alice" (which I still have!) and the Jabberwocky 9:12 gave me a few nightmares! I hadn't seen his other illustrations! Thanks so much!
I think you should put more of the videos in playlist form. Love the videos!
Hello and thanks for the comment. Making playlists is something I keep meaning to do (although I'm not really sure what the point of them is) but keep forgetting to do anything about.
Great books often conjure up images in the mind of the reader that are hard to improve upon. Sometimes an illustrator, or film maker, can transport you to the world you had imagined in a way that seems perfect. Tenniel did this with the Alice books. Thanks again Pete for this terrific episode.
Hello to you and many thanks for the appreciation. And I don't know how many subsequent versions have been published but none I can think of rival the originals.
I always look forward to your videos and I learn so much from them. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us in such an entertaining way.
Hello and thans a lot for your appreciation of the channel. It means a lot to me.
Thanks once again for shining a light on an illustrator whose work I obviously knew (through the Alice books of course) but whose name was new to me. It is interesting that, despite a hugely successful career in political satire, rather like his fellow Punch alumnus E. H. Shepherd, John Tenniel will forever be associated with works in which he is the less well known collaborator.
Hello and thanks for the comment and favourable response. It seems like it's the illustrators who write their own books who earn the greater recognition.
Thanks, Pete. I, like others here, knew Tenniel through his Alice in Wonderland illustration.
I had seen his 'Dropping The Pilot,' but I was not aware that Tenniel was the artist. This shows Bismarck's dismissal by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Bismarck's last remarks to Wilhelm was never go to war with Britain, which is what Wilhelm did in 1914. As we know it did not end well for Wilhelm.
Hello again and thanks for your appreciation of the video. I must confess I've never really seen the merits of the Bismarck image, and always found it (like some of his other political and less fanciful images) a bit stiff and formal. The madder the better for me.
@@petebeard😅😅😅😅.....all better...
@@petebeard Well I prefer those people with a good sense of humour. It's usually them that take themselves far to seriously that go and start wars.
I was only familiar with Tenniel's illustration of the Alice books, so I was glad to learn more about the rest of his work.
Hello and I'm glad to hear that. Of course his Alice work is so monumental everything else is under its shadow.
Unbelievable talent. Most of us have probably seen his work without realizing who the artist was. Thank you for the most informative biography.
My apologies for such a late reply. I don't know how but you slipped under my radar. Anyway my belated thanks.
you made it! thank you for taking my recommendation, this is excellent!!
Hello and I'm delighted you (and quite a few others it seems) enjoyed it. Worth the wait?
@@petebeard absolutely worth the wait. great to learn more about one of my top artistic inspirations. 😎
Thank you, your channel helped me a lot!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
This is yet another wonderful video. Tenniel's depictions of the characters from the Alice books always seemed spot on to me. Like all great illustrators, he was more than just adept with a pencil. He possessed a vivid imagination and the ability translate his vision to paper. Thank you for the look at this man and his work.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation, and naturally enoughI agree totally with your own estimation of his talent.
Another wonderful video, thank you!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Thank you very much, Pete Beard, for this marvelous video of yours showing Tenniel in all his glory - to me he will always be the illustrator of the Alice books, but it's good to know that he did so much with his political work ~
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video - and of course Tennuel's marvellous work. There are other versionso f Alice I like but the original remains the greatest for many of us.
Hi Pete.... thanks for another informative video. I really enjoy your videos and have learned a lot about artists that I have never known. This particular artist is excellent.
Hello again and thanks for the comment. I'm pleased you're still finding the content of interest.
Dear Pete Beard, thank you so much for all the videos. They are always very interesting and are so complete. I have learned so much about my favorite artists and so many new ones. I have many books illustrated by these wonderful artists. I’ve enjoyed the videos so much.
Hello and many thanks for your kind words about the channel and its content. It's a genuine pleasure to know this labour of love is appreciated.
I especially appreciate your giving credit to the engravers. If the illustrator had a poor engraver, the results could be devastating. And, during that period, the teamwork was very important. Also, the rare examples you find are amazing; I so appreciate the work you put into these videos. Your documentaries always blow me away, thank you so much!
Your appreciation of my efforts with the channel is very welcome. It's good to know.
Splendid. The edition of Carroll's Alice books I've read is illustrated by Tenniel. It must be a very, very special experience for an artist to illustrate Alice's adventures.
Thanks again, and I've wondered for a while whether I should make a video of all the various editions there have been since tenniel's.
Wonderful, just loved his iconic work with Lewis Carroll, thank-you so much for reviewing his artwork. Even though their partnership on Alice in Wonderland may have been difficult-- it is classic! Strong minds seldom want to be led.
Hi and thanks for another appreciative comment. And it does make me wonder whether the tensions between them actually got the best out of Tenniel, if only to demostrate to Lewis Carroll just how much he needed a real illustrator to bring his stories to life.
@@petebeardThe Reverend Dodgson, stayed here on the Wirral at Brimstage hall, where the original Cheshire cat can be found....E
Lennon and McCartney had similar issues....
As did Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Another wonderful presentation of a favorite artist. As a young designer, I used to practice my pen and ink skills by copying the "Alice" illustrations. Years later, as a set designer, I was approached by a local ballet company to design their "Alice in Wonderland" ballet. Naturally, my set was a giant book with huge Tenniel illustrations. The proscenium arch I filled with life sized cutouts of all the characters. I wish there was a way to show you the few photos I have.
Hello again and that sounds like a fascinating production. Sadly this less than ideal platform doesn't allow for the sending or recieving of images.
@@petebeard As my friends in New Orleans would say, "True dat!"
Another Educative Gem
Thanks a lot for your comment.
Absolutely incredible and very captivating. I appreciate the expertise and the variety of illustrations that he blessed us with, with such artistry and so many different types of subjects and influences .
Thanks Pete for the indepth study of his works and creativity. ❤
Hello and thanks so much for your appreciation of this video. I'm glad you enjoyed his work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ *Thanks Pete*
great work love your channel
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Nice one,sir, Williamson art gallery 18th and 19th ,November...Oxton Artist's display...😊😊
Hi Eamonn and thanks. And there's a gallery I didnt even know about. I must investigate.
@@petebearda guaranteed treat....no spoilers
Like so many, I too had a copy of Lewis Carrol's 'Alice in Wonderland' and the others. Enjoyed the illustrations, but never knew about the man behind the illustrations. Did he 'invent' the Punch mascot - the man with the beak nose - or did someone else?
11:31 His moustache alone deserves a Knighthood!
Well, of course, Punch was a well-known puppet character for at least a century before Tenniel illustrated him, and had been a _commedia dell' arte_ figure (Policinello) before that.
Hello and thanks for the comment and appreciation. The other comment is of course quite correct about the origins of Punch, but the character as depicted on the magazine was the creation of Richard 'Dicky' Doyle.
As the illustrator of the Alice books, John Tenniel is, of course, very well known. But what a wealth of information you added to this! Every bit of his work is exciting, funny, and entertaining in turn. I am amazed that this beloved and famous artist segment has relatively few views. But admittedly, this often baffles me with your videos. Always interesting, well researched and presented, there ought to be many more views and "likes". Thank you for the meticulous work.
Thanks for your zealous dedication to the channel, and don't get me started about views, likes and subscriptions. I'm not arrogant enough to think I can compete with the more sensationalist drivel that constitutes most youtube content, but I confess I share your bafflement at the relatively little attention some of my videos get. But I soldier on, and tell myself it's for posterity.
I remember finding the illustrations in Alice in Wonderland and Alice Though the Looking Glass made me feel very creepy. Perhaps they reminded me of the bad dreams I sometimes had as a young child. Like a fever dream. Now I see them as the products of a technically brilliant and highly imaginative person who manages creepy dream-like images extremely well.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. Your childhood response to Tenniel's illustratons - and those two books in general - mirrors my own, and I suspect many others. I find a lot of other Victorian work resonates in a similarly sinister way.
Nicely done, Pete, and a fitting tribute to the enduring work of a great pen and ink illustrator. Thanks as always.
Hi again and thanks for the appreciation. It's always welcome. I must say it's one of the more frustrating things about engraving that it usually ruins the drawn original, so I couldn't show as much as I would have liked to.
Just subscribed to your excellent video channel on Illustrators. LOVE the information you share and how you professionally present it in such a visually engaging manner. Would love to connect with you about future project. Please let me know how to reach you directly. THANKS!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation and subsciption. Please don't be offended but I would not be happy posting my contact details on such a public forum as this. And I stick dggedly to my own little universe with a general policy of not getting involved in collaborations. Sorry to disappoint.
Wow, just wow.
Thanks a lot.
You are doing so much great work popularising the appreciation of illustration. Have you thought about approaching a publisher about curating a book on illustration, Pete?
Hello and thanks a lot for your favourable comment about the channel. And I have in fact recently been approached by a publisher but as a natural pessimist (and based on previous experience) it will more than likely come to nothing. All I can say is watch this space but be braced for disappointment. It's more likely I'll re-format ibto PDF for downlaoding in the future, if I ever find the time to do so.
@@petebeard That’s good news, I hope it works out.
fabulous!!!
Hi and thanks a lot for the comment.
One of the many interesting and admirable things of Tenniel's work as seen in this video is his depiction of people of color, unlike other illustrators and cartoonists of his era, and sadly later eras, he did not draw people of color as grotesque racist caricatures or villainous, but as real people.
Hello and yes that's an interesting point which I must admit had not occurred to me.
Tenniel and I go back so far that it was a time I could do little beyond stare for what seemed like a long time at the Alice illustrations! But the redoubtable Miss Dee continued to enrich my growing life, and i remember discovering (with sarcastic pleasure) that all of Carroll's crazy poems (okay, not Jabberwocky, but everything else) were parodies of the poet laureate Robert Southey! But of Punch I chiefly remember "Dropping the Pilot," and, like other of your commenters, not realizing who the artist was. A fine and versatile creator almost reduced to one dimension by his one huge success -- somewhat as Leroy Anderson is increasingly reduced to "Sleigh Ride!"
Hello again and thanks for your comments about Tenniel's work. However hard I looked I was frustrated to not be able to discover whether he got to share in the royalties from the Carroll books, or if he was paid a flat fee. What a terrible irony it would have been (although he was obviously wealthy from his work anyway) if he had been just paid for the work, rather than its enduring global success.
@@petebeard Yeah...when Lucas was making Star Wars he didn't have the money to pay Carrie Fischer and whatever his name was that played Obi-Wan, so he got them to do it for a share of the proceeds!
An amazing talent and influence. It was interesting to see the appearance of the Jabberwocky in your piece on the artist Edd Cartier. Thanks
Hello and thanks for the comment. And yes that was a cheeky little reference on the part of Mr. Cartier.
As always amazing content! I love Tenniel’s work! Could you make a video about engraving and famous engravers?
Hello and thanks for the comment. And more thanks for the subject suggestion, which could make for an interesting video. But don't hold your breath. It's already a very long list and at the moment I'm taking a break from that kind of overview video for the simple reason that thay are by far the hardest tomake. But assuming I live long enough it will get made and I'm very grateful for the suggestion.
GRACIAS
Hello and you are welcome.
John Tenniel, Arthur Rackham, Albrecht Durer and Gustave Dore are my guiding lights as an artist. Well, with a bit of help from Burne Hogarth as a more direct teacher as well. I have not succeeded yet, but I hope to be a successful student of these timeless masters.
Hello and many thanks for your comment about this video. And thanks for introducing me to the work of Burne Hogarth, who I'm mildy embarrassed to admit was previously unaware of.
Tenniel’s Alice illustrations have captured the gist of the book perfectly - odd, different, compelling, with strange details. Above all, entertaining.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation of Tenniel's work.
Brilliant.
Hello and thanks.
I loved it as always.❤
Thanks, and I'm pleased to hear it.
Great as usual Mr. B but you may be missing a trick. Do you have any information on the colour edition of the illustrated Alice? This is the version I grew with and in fact I was quite surprised to discover that most people know the pictures only in black and white. I'm pretty sure the colours where done by Tenniel himself but this copy is sadly long lost and I've never seen it on sale since.
How's this for a quick response? I just happened to be checking comments and saw yours, and I'm sorry to disappoint but the colour version was not created by Tenniel. They did use his original engraved monochromes as the basis of this version but the edition was hand coloured in 1937, long after his death. I can't remember who did colour them but I didn't think it was a valid inclusion.
I love this channel. I once saw a map that laid out a sort of history of rock bands (at least reasonably successful ones anyway) and the most influential rock banks were in big circles, with lines pointing to all the bands they'd influenced. It was a fairly messy map, but it showed how a small number of massively influential bands led to the evolution of rock music from the 1960's or so through the 2010's. I would LOVE to see something similar for illustration. Such as, was Thomas Nast really the most influential illustrator, or did he take after someone else? When people said Neal Adams in the 1970's redefined comic book drawings and everyone was being called a "Neal Adams clone", was Neal really basic his work on someone I don't know about? I can't find any such map of illustrators but I bet you, Pete Beard, would know if one exists! Thanks!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. And I remember the rock family trees (assuming that's what you refer to) by Pete Frame.If there is such a thing for illustration I certainly don't know about it. And tempted as I am the notion of taking on such an epic undertaking at my time of life just seems too daunting - but it is a fascinating concept nevertheless.
I LOVE YOU PETE BEARD!!!!
Hello and what a nice thing to say. I'm blushing (which isn't seemly in an old man...)
When I was a child, we had a 20 volume set of the Books of Knowledge which were a bit like a set of encyclopedias, but not arranged alphabetically. Featured throughout the volumes were Aesop's Fables (some illustrated) and The book of Childrens Stories which included the Alice tales. I am fairly certain Tenniel's illustrations were present. The books were published around 1920.
Thanks for the comment. And you are certainly correct about Tenniel still appearing in print around that time. Publishers really got value for money out of his work - and that of others - right through the 20th century.
How interesting! Thank you!
I'm glad you enjoyed this video.
Is it true that the illustrations of the lion and the unicorn in "Looking Glass" are parodies of Gladstone and Disraeli?
I don't know about the truth or otherwise of it but it has certainly been said that this is the case. I can see Disraeli (with odd chin beard) in the Unicorn, but the Gladstone lion is a little less obvious - perhaps the grim downward turn of the mouth?
I wonder if he is related to the ‘other’ Tenniel? You know, Captain and Tenniel?
I like a bit of humour - that's a good one.
Hey Pete, can I know where do you get all those images from the internet?
These are the websites that I know of at the moment, perhaps there's something helpfull:
- The internet archive.
- Mutualart.
- Meisterdrucke.
- Artnet.
- Sulis fine art (this one is probably not helpfull).
Hope you're doing fine.
By the way, this comment has alredy been punlished in your previous video, but I'm not sure wether you check comments of older videos so apologies if this is anoying in any way.
Hello and the places I dig stuff up from is way too diverse to list, and seems to change depending on who/what I'm looking for,but you list some good ones in your comment -particularly the internet archive. I can recommend the LOC and V&A sites (although the latter is as frustrating as it is useful, and beyond that try the national library archives of major European cities.
@@petebeardOk, thank you so much!
as always great!Thanks
Hi again and I'm pleased you enjoyed the video.
Can i request Thomas Bewick :)
Hello and yes you can request Bewick, although he would be some way down my list of priorities, as although I respect and admire him for his contribution I can't actually say he's among my personal favourites. And there's a long line of others already in progress, who I'm considerably keener on. That doesn't mean I won't cover him, though and I thank you for the suggestion.
@@petebeard Great thanks
I've already congratulated Pete Beard on his videos finding them entertaining and interesting. But there is a much more important element - many of illustrators and their work were unknown to me prior to watching the presentations. And I reckon they would be unknown to many others as well and it's good these illustrators of the past and their work is recognised. I'm wondering if a major art gallery would want these videos for their archive and for visitors to see - just a thought.
Hello again and my enduring gratitude to you for your comments about the channel. It would be nice to think of the videos being archived that way but given how little value seems to be place on illustration as opposed to fine art I doubt many would be interested.
Old father time will take care of that! I've made a lot of different films and it happens.
illustrations of my childhood 🥰😀
thank you for the information :)
Hello and you are very welcome.
I have the second printing of Alice in wonderland and the prints are, yes wonderful.
Sorry to take so long replying. I only just realised I hadn't done so. My belated thanks.
Artist century. On the spot, drawing illustrated. Skill talented! Dremendus Great!❤ up esy art no talen depending in computer age sad only speed in A i😢
Thanks a lot for your comment.
Pete, Lately your spacing is so off. T ENNIEL and the one before this. Frank
Unfortunately my indifference to typographic nuance means I don't even see these issues until they are pointed out. By which time of course the horse has bolted.
Hi, excellent video, however you failed to mention or show John Tenniels anti Irish sentiment. You said his political cartoons were never needlessly aggressive however I beg to differ. His cartoons made us Irish out to be ape like and a sub species of human, when we were fighting for our freedom from an aggressive empire, which was always portrayed as paternal. Additionally I dont buy the excuse he was told what to draw. His legacy is unfortunately tainted with this anti irish bigotry.
Hello and you are right of course. But from my perspective it seems I simply can't win. I left that aspect of his work out in order to not cause offence, as I have been berated on several occasions by viewers for including works in my videos showing such vilification of other nations and races. By his 'political' cartoons I referred only to his depictions of actual politicians.
@@petebeard Hi Pete, I understand. It's a pity history has to be watered down. Your video is excellent. I strongly urge you to tell his whole story though. In Ireland right now there is a rise of anti immigrant sentiment. Must as there was in Britain in the 1850s. It important we remember history and learn from it. Again though, excellent video.