The Project Gutenberg eBook of Caricature and Other Comic Art in All Times and Many Lands.
Title: Caricature and Other Comic Art in All Times and Many Lands.
Author: James Parton
Release date: April 2, 2012 [eBook #39347]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow, Christine P. Travers and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
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CARICATURE
AND
OTHER COMIC ART
IN ALL TIMES AND MANY LANDS
By JAMES PARTON
WITH 203 ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE
1877
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PREFACE.
In this volume there is, I believe, a greater variety of pictures of a comic and satirical cast than was ever before presented at one view. Many nations, ancient and modern, pagan and Christian, are represented in it, as well as most of the names identified with art of this nature. The extraordinary liberality of the publishers, and the skill of their corps of engravers, have seconded my own industrious researches, and the result is a volume unique, at least, in the character of its illustrations. A large portion of its contents appeared in Harper's Monthly Magazine during the year 1875; but many of the most curious and interesting of the pictures are given here for the first time; notably, those exhibiting the present or recent caricature of Germany, Spain, Italy, China, and Japan, several of which did not arrive in time for use in the periodical.
Generally speaking, articles contributed to a Magazine may as well be left in their natural tomb of "back numbers," or "bound volumes;" for the better they serve a temporary purpose, the less adapted they are for permanent utility. Among the exceptions are such series as the present, which had no reference whatever to the passing months, and in the preparation of which a great expenditure was directed to a single class of objects of special interest. I am, indeed, amazed at the cost of producing such articles as these. So very great is the expense, that many subjects could not be adequately treated, with all desirable illustration, unless the publishers could offer the work to the public in portions.
There is not much to be said upon the subject treated in this volume. When I was invited by the learned and urbane editor of Harper's Monthly to furnish a number of articles upon caricature, I supposed that the work proposed would be a relief after labors too arduous, too long continued, and of a more serious character. On the contrary, no subject that I ever attempted presented such baffling difficulties. After ransacking the world for specimens, and collecting them by the hundred, I found that, usually, a caricature is a thing of a moment, and that, dying as soon as its moment has passed, it loses all power to interest, instantly and forever. I found, too, that our respectable ancestors had not the least notion of what we call decency. When, therefore, I had laid aside from the mass the obsolete and the improper, there were not so very many left, and most of those told their own story so plainly that no elucidation was necessary. Instead of wearying the reader with a mere descriptive catalogue, I have preferred to accompany the pictures with allusions to contemporary satire other than pictorial.
The great living authorities upon this branch of art are two in number—one English, and one French—to both of whom I am greatly indebted. The English author is Thomas Wright, M.A., F.S.A., etc., whose "History of Caricature and the Grotesque" is well known among us, as well as his more recent volume upon the incomparable caricaturist of the last generation, James Gillray. The French writer is M. Jules Champfleury, author of a valuable series of volumes reviewing satiric art from ancient times to our own day, with countless illustrations. No one has treated so fully or so well as he the caricature of the Greeks and Romans. Many years ago, M. Champfleury began to illustrate this part of his subject in the Gazette des Beaux Arts, and his contributions to that important periodical were the basis of his subsequent volumes. He is one of the few writers on comic matters who have avoided the lapse into catalogue, and contrived to be interesting.
It has been agreeable to me to observe that Americans are not without natural aptitude in this kind of art. Our generous Franklin, the friend of Hogarth, to whom the dying artist wrote his last letter, replying to the last letter he ever received, was a capital caricaturist, and used his skill in this way, as he did all his other gifts and powers, in behalf of his country and his kind. At the present time, every week's issue of the illustrated periodicals exhibits evidence of the skill, as well as the patriotism and right feeling, of the humorous artists of the United States. For some years past, caricature has been a power in the land, and a power generally on the right side. There are also humorous artists of another and gentler kind, some even of the gentler sex, who present to us scenes which surprise us all into smiles and good temper without having in them any lurking sting of reproof. These domestic humorists, I trust, will continue to amuse and soften us, while the avenging satirist with dreadful pencil makes mad the guilty, and appalls the free.
There must be something precious in caricature, else the enemies of truth and freedom would not hate it as they do. Some of the worst excesses and perversions of satiric art are due to that very hatred. Persecuted and repressed, caricature becomes malign and perverse; or, being excluded from legitimate subjects, it seems as if it were compelled to ally itself to vice. We have only to turn from a heap of French albums to volumes of English caricature to have a striking evidence of the truth, that the repressive system represses good and develops evil. It is the "Censure" that debauches the comic pencil; it is freedom that makes it the ally of good conduct and sound politics. In free countries alone it has scope enough, without wandering into paths which the eternal proprieties forbid. I am sometimes sanguine enough to think that the pencil of the satirist will at last render war impossible, by bringing vividly home to all genial minds the ludicrous absurdity of such a method of arriving at truth. Fancy two armies "in presence." By some process yet to be developed, the Nast of the next generation, if not the admirable Nast of this, projects upon the sky, in the sight of the belligerent forces, a picture exhibiting the enormous comicality of their attitude and purpose. They all see the point, and both armies break up in laughter, and come together roaring over the joke.
In the hope that this volume may contribute something to the amusement of the happy at festive seasons, and to the instruction of the curious at all times, it is presented to the consideration of the public.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE
Among the Romans 15
CHAPTER II.
Among the Greeks 28
CHAPTER III.
Among the Ancient Egyptians 32
CHAPTER IV.
Among the Hindoos 36
CHAPTER V.
Religious Caricature in the Middle Ages 40
CHAPTER VI.
Secular Caricature in the Middle Ages 50
CHAPTER VII.
Caricatures preceding the Reformation 64
CHAPTER VIII.
Comic Art and the Reformation 76
CHAPTER IX.
In the Puritan Period 90
CHAPTER X.
Later Puritan Caricature 105
CHAPTER XI.
Preceding Hogarth 120
CHAPTER XII.
Hogarth and his Time 133
CHAPTER XIII.
English Caricature in the Revolutionary Period 147
CHAPTER XIV.
During the French Revolution 159
CHAPTER XV.
Caricatures of Women and Matrimony 171
CHAPTER XVI.
Among the Chinese 191
CHAPTER XVII.
Comic Art in Japan 198
CHAPTER XVIII.
French Caricature 208
CHAPTER XIX.
Later French Caricature 230
CHAPTER XX.
Comic Art in Germany 242
CHAPTER XXI.
Comic Art in Spain 249
CHAPTER XXII.
Italian Caricature 257
CHAPTER XXIII.
English Caricature of the Present Century 267
CHAPTER XXIV.
Comic Art in "Punch" 284
CHAPTER XXV.
Early American Caricature 300
CHAPTER XXVI.
Later American Caricature 318
INDEX 335
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
- Page
- Pigmy Pugilists, from Pompeii 15
- Chalk Drawing by Roman Soldier in Pompeii 15
- Chalk Caricature on a Wall in Pompeii 16
- Battle between Pigmies and Geese 17
- A Pigmy Scene—from Pompeii 18
- Vases with Pigmy Designs 19
- A Grasshopper driving a Chariot 19
- From an Antique Amethyst 19
- Flight of Æneas from Troy 20
- Caricature of the Flight of Æneas 20
- From a Red Jasper 21
- Roman Masks, Comic and Tragic 22
- Roman Comic Actor, masked for Silenus 22
- Roman Wall Caricature of a Christian 25
- Burlesque of Jupiter's Wooing of Princess Alcmena 29
- Greek Caricature of the Oracle of Apollo 30
- An Egyptian Caricature 32
- A Condemned Soul, Egyptian Caricature 33
- Egyptian Servants conveying Home their Masters from a Carouse 33
- Too Late with the Basin 34
- The Hindoo God Krishna on his Travels 37
- Krishna's Attendants assuming the Form of a Bird 37
- Krishna in his Palanquin 38
- Capital in the Autun Cathedral 41
- Capitals in the Strasburg Cathedral, A.D. 1300 41
- Engraved upon a Stall in Sherborne Minster, England 43
- From a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century 43
- From a Mass-book of the Fourteenth Century 44
- From a French Prayer-book of the Thirteenth Century 45
- From Queen Mary's Prayer-book, A.D. 1553 46
- Gog and Magog, Guildhall, London 50
- Head of the Great Dragon of Norwich 51
- Souls weighed in the Balance, Autun Cathedral 51
- Struggle for Possession of a Soul between Angel and Devil 52
- Lost Souls cast into Hell 53
- Devils seizing their Prey 54
- The Temptation 55
- French Death-crier 56
- Death and the Cripple 57
- Death and the Old Man 58
- Death and the Peddler 58
- Death and the Knight 58
- Heaven and Earth weighed in the Balance 60
- English Caricature of an Irishman, A.D. 1280 62
- Caricature of the Jews in England, A.D. 1233 63
- Luther inspired by Satan 64
- Devil fiddling upon a Pair of Bellows 65
- Oldest Drawing in the British Museum, A.D. 1320 66
- Bishop's Seal, A.D. 1300 67
- Pastor and Flock, Sixteenth Century 70
- Confessing to God; and Sale of Indulgences 72
- Christ, the True Light 73
- Papa, Doctor Theologiæ et Magister Fidei 77
- The Pope cast into Hell 77
- "The Beam that is in thine own Eye," A.D. 1540 78
- Luther Triumphant 79
- The Triumph of Riches 81
- Calvin branded 83
- Calvin at the Burning of Servetus 84
- Calvin, the Pope, and Luther 85
- Titian's Caricature of the Laocoön 89
- The Papal Gorgon 90
- Spayne and Rome defeated 94
- From Title-page to Sermon "Woe to Drunkards" 97
- "Let not the World devide those whom Christ hath joined" 99
- "England's Wolfe with Eagle's Clawes," 1647 102
- Charles II. and the Scotch Presbyterians, 1651 103
- Cris-cross Rhymes on Love's Crosses, 1640 105
- Shrove-tide in Arms against Lent 107
- Lent tilting at Shrove-tide 108
- The Queen of James II. and Father Petre 109
- Caricature of Corpulent General Galas 115
- A Quaker Meeting, 1710 116
- Archbishop of Paris 118
- Archbishop of Rheims 118
- Caricature of Louis XIV., by Thackeray 119
- "Shares! Shares! Shares!" Caricature of John Law 120
- Island of Madhead 122
- Speculative Map of Louisiana 126
- John Law, Wind Monopolist 129
- The Sleeping Congregation 134
- Hogarth's Drawing in Three Strokes 137
- Hogarth's Invitation Card 137
- Time Smoking a Picture 138
- Dedication of a Proposed History of the Arts 140
- Walpole paring the Nails of the British Lion 142
- Dutch Neutrality, 1745 142
- British Idolatry of the Opera-singer Mingotti 143
- The Motion (for the Removal of Walpole) 144
- Antiquaries puzzled 146
- Caricature designed by Benjamin Franklin 147
- Lord Bute 152
- Princess of Wales—Bute—George III 152
- The Wire-master (Bute) and his Puppets 153
- The Gouty Colossus, William Pitt 156
- The Mask (Coalition) 157
- Heads of Fox and North 158
- Assembly of the Notables at Paris 161
- Mirabeau 162
- The Dagger Scene in the House of Commons 164
- The Zenith of French Glory 165
- The Estates 166
- The New Calvary 166
- President of Revolutionary Committee amusing himself with his Art 168
- Rare Animals 169
- Aristocrat and Democrat 170
- "You frank! Have confidence in you!" 171
- Matrimony—A Man loaded with Mischief 173
- Settling the Odd Trick 174
- "Who was that gentleman that just went out?" 176
- "Now, understand me. To-morrow morning he will ask you to dinner" 177
- "Madame, your Cousin Betty wishes to know if you can receive her" 179
- A Scene of Conjugal Life 180
- A Splendid Spread 181
- American Lady walking in the Snow 183
- "My dear Baron, I am in the most pressing need of five hundred franc" 184
- "Sir, be good enough to come round in front and speak to me" 185
- "Where are the diamonds exhibited?" 185
- Evening Scene in the Parlor of an American Boarding-house 186
- "He's coming! Take off your hat!" 188
- The Scholastic Hen and her Chickens 189
- Chinese Caricature of an English Foraging Party 191
- A Deaf Mandarin 196
- After Dinner. A Chinese Caricature 197
- The Rat Rice Merchants. A Japanese Caricature 206
- Talleyrand—the Man with Six Heads 209
- A Great Man's Last Leap 210
- Talleyrand 211
- A Promenade in the Palais Royal 213
- Family of the Extinguishers 214
- The Jesuits at Court 215
- Charles Philipon 218
- Robert Macaire fishing for Share-holders 221
- A Husband's Dilemma 223
- Housekeeping 224
- A Poultice for Two 226
- Parisian "Shoo, Fly!" 227
- Three! 228
- Two Attitudes 230
- The Den of Lions at the Opera 231
- The Vulture 233
- Partant pour la Syrie 234
- Gavarni 236
- Honoré Daumier 237
- Evolution of the Piano 243
- A Corporal interviewed by the Major 244
- A Bold Comparison 245
- Strict Discipline in the Field 246
- Ahead of Time 247
- A Journeyman's Leave-taking 248
- After Sedan 250
- To the Bull-fight 251
- A Delegation of Birds of Prey 252
- "Child, you will take cold" 253
- Inconvenience of the New Collar 254
- Sufferings endured by a Prisoner of War 255
- King Bomba's Ultimatum to Sicily 259
- He has begun the Service with Mass, and completed it with Bombs 260
- The Burial of Liberty 261
- Bomba at Supper 262
- "Such is the Love of Kings" 263
- Mr. Punch 264
- Return of the Pope to Rome 265
- James Gillray 267
- Tiddy-Doll, the Great French Gingerbread Baker 268
- The Threatened Invasion of England 269
- The Bibliomaniac 270
- Hope—A Phrenological Illustration 271
- Term Time 273
- Box in a New York Theatre in 1830 276
- Seymour's Conception of Mr. Winkle 278
- Probable Suggestion of the Fat Boy 280
- A Wedding Breakfast 281
- The Boy who chalked up "No Popery!" 284
- John Leech 285
- Preparatory School for Young Ladies 286
- The Quarrel.—England and France 287
- Obstructives 290
- Jeddo and Belfast; or, a Puzzle for Japan 291
- "At the Church-gate" 292
- An Early Quibble 294
- John Tenniel 295
- Soliloquy of a Rationalistic Chicken 298
- "I'll follow thee!" 299
- Join or Die 304
- Boston Massacre Coffins 306
- A Militia Drill in Massachusetts in 1832 308
- Fight in Congress between Lyon and Griswold 312
- The Gerry-mander 316
- Thomas Nast 318
- Wholesale and Retail 319
- The Brains of the Tammany Ring 320
- "What are the wild waves saying?" 321
- Shin-plaster Caricature of General Jackson's War on the United States Bank 322
- City People in a Country Church 323
- "Why don't you take it?" 324
- Popular Caricature of the Secession War 325
- Virginia pausing 326
- Tweedledee and Sweedledum 328
- "Who Stole the People's Money?" 329
- "On to Richmond!" 330
- Christmas-time.—Won at a Turkey Raffle 331
- "He cometh not, she said" 332