“A tenant Farmer” Vanity Fair caricature of Mr. Clare Sewell Read, M.P.

$90.00

Original lithograph from a watercolour caricature of Mr. Clare Sewell Read, M.P. for Vanity Fair Statesmen. No. CCIV (204) on June 5 1875.

Established by Thomas Gibson Bowles (1841-1922), Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine of social comment, published in London from 1868 to 1914. With eight to ten pages each issue, Vanity Fair magazine's popularity was guaranteed by the inclusion, each week from the following year, of an amusing caricature, lithographed from a watercolour, parodying any newsworthy personage. Over the years of publication it became a mark of honour to be the 'victim' of one of the magazine's caricaturists. Bowles accompanied each with a witty text, full of personal insights and innuendoes, written under his nickname of 'Jehu Junior' (after the biblical prophet who effected the downfall of his enemies). 

Bowles considered the images to be “grim faces made more grim, grotesque figures made more grotesque, and dull people made duller by the genius of our talented collaborator ‘Ape’" (Carlo Pellegrini, 1839-1889) who had arrived from Naples in 1864. (Pellegrini had been popular among Neapolitan society, and had repaid the favour with good-natured caricatures.) The other major caricaturist was ‘Spy’ (Leslie Ward, 1851-1922). It was the first time lithography had been used for caricatures. They were printed by the eminent lithographer, Vincent Brooks (1814-1885), who produced over 2,300 different caricatures for Vanity Fair.

Page size 355 x 230 (14 x 9 inches). In good condition except for Indian ink "75" at top right and "Clare Read" written at lower right.