Parents Take Hart

Searle's favorite painting

 

Vauxhall Gardens, 1784, by Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827), Victoria & Albert Museum.

From Country Life magazine.

Ronald Searle on Vauxhall Gardens, 1784 by Thomas Rowlandson

‘Obsessed as I am with the magical, satirical pen line, I am very much aware of its roots – its forebears, those who created it with genius: Hogarth, Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshank. But if I must declare a favourite, I confess that I feel closest to Rowlandson.

'That living line, that freshness of colour, that beautiful reflection of rural nature, all stirred in with a penetrating dissection of character. It all comes together beautifully in Vauxhall Gardens.’

Art critic John McEwen on Rowlandson

'No greater compliment could be paid Rowlandson than being chosen by today’s doyen of ‘the magical satirical pen line’. Rowlandson and Searle have the rare ability to make us laugh outright, yet the ‘living line’ is the key, so an artistic tour de force is chosen. Rowlandson was born and raised in London, but his sensibility was markedly French thanks to his surrogate mother, his Huguenot aunt Jane. ‘French sophistication, elegance and delicacy’ were cited by the art historian John Hayes for Rowlandson attaining English preeminence as a draughtsman in his 18th-century prime. Had he painted in oils, his artistic status would be properly honoured.

As it is, we think of him primarily as a cartoonist and illustrator, professions he found better suited to his convivial taste for drink and gambling. Vauxhall Gardens (now Spring Gardens) were in Kennington. At their height in the 18th century, they opened from 7pm between May and September, a place to be seen, to promenade or take a box, to dine or picnic and listen to music, popular and classical. The one-shilling entrance fee was open to all.

Rowlandson shows Samuel Johnson at the table, with Boswell (left) and Goldsmith (right), Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire and her sister Lady Duncannon (centre) and the future George IV with his married mistress, the actress and author Mary Robinson (right). The masterpiece was lost for 160 years and was bought by a keen-eyed tobacco dealer for £1 from a shop near Walthamstow in 1945. He immediately sold it through Christie’s for 2,600 guineas.

Anthony Quayle

 The Searles were friendly with British actor Anthony Quayle whose birthday is today!

Ronald Searle, artist (1920-2011). Pair of Original Copper Printing Plates Depicting Anthony Quayle as Falstaff. A pair of copper plates, depicting the same image in different states, signed and dated in reverse within the image. Stratford, 1951. Each measuring approximately 11.5" x 9". Some scratching and surface wear. Some glue residue on versos. Very good. From the collection of Judith Adelman. (sold at Heritage Auctions in 2014)

Magazine Illustration Part 5 :

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING magazine (1959) 

Khrushchev

Alternative version

Nikita Khrushchev in New York, 1960 

pencil, pen and brown ink and watercolour

Holiday Magazine, New York, 1960.

Take One Toad

 Some of the original drawings from 'Take One Toad' (1968) have been sold at auction in recent years. They're stunning, large-format, color drawings. The book is a good size too and there are sometimes prints on eBay which don't have the image dissected by the gutter of the book.

See my page dedicated to 'Take One Toad' here

'I Have No Gun But I Can Spit'

'I Have No Gun, But I can Spit'. An Anthology of satirical and abusive verse selected by Kenneth Baker

-Published by Eyre Methuen, London, 1980

Original artwork. 

View a comprehensive gallery of 'Book Covers' by Searle at the link in the list on the right.