| Title: |
The Cotter's Child (Illustrated London News) |
| Printer: |
George C. Leighton, 198 Strand of the (Leighton Brothers, London) |
| Publisher: |
Illustrated London News |
| Date: |
1874 |
| Medium: |
Original Wood Engraving Printed in Color |
| Note: |
Leighton Brothers, London: The Leighton Brothers firm was established in 1849 by George Cargill Leighton (1826-1895), his brothers, Steven Leighton (1834-1920) and Charles Blair Leighton (1823-1855). Their firm specialized in early engravings printed in color. Experiments in printing wood engravings in colors began about 1850. The two great innovators in this field were Edmund Evans (The printer behind Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane) and George Leighton, who, after forming Leighton Brothers Company produced some of the largest color engravings of the Victorian era. In 1855, the Leighton Brothers printed the first color engraving to be issued in a 'Christmas Supplement' for 'The Illustrated London News'. During the next thirty years, they continued to print many other fine works for the I. L. N., the 'Art Journal', 'The Illustrated Almanac' (another branch of the I. L. N.) and various other British firms. The Leighton Brothers received commissions to print children's books for firms like Warcwich House Toy Books, which included 'Domestic Animals', 'Home' and 'Field Animal's, 'The A B O of Animals and Birds', and Routlege's New Colored Toy Books, 'Cinderella', 'Mother Hubbard and Cock Robin', 'Routledges Colored Scrap-Book' and many others. Around 1858, George C. Leighton became the main printer and publisher for the Illustrated London News and remained in that position until 1883. After the death of Ingram Herbert, owner and founder of that newspaper, George Leighton and Mr. Thomas Parry, continued to to manage the newspaper. Leighton Brothers was sold to the leading british lithographic firm of Vincent Brooks, Day & Son in 1885. "The Cotter's Child" represents a very early example of the color printed wood engraving. |
| |
The Cotter's Child" is an early example of the wood engraving printed in colors. It was created by the "Leighton Brothers" and commissioned by the "Illustrated London News" in 1874. Cotters were Irish farmers who rented both the land and their cottages. The little girl in this engraving is carrying yeast in her arms in her way to the outdoor oven. The Leighton Brothers contributed at least twelve large color wood engravings for the Illustrated London News. These original wood engravings (including "The Cotter's Child") were printed on thick, fine paper and represent some of the finest color print making of the nineteenth century. |
| |
The Illustrated London News: One of the primary originators of pictorial journalism was the British, "Illustrated London News". Established by Herbert Ingram (1811-1860), the "Illustrated London News" published its initial number in 1842 and continued well into the twentieth century. Throughout its life, skilled artists maintained a very high level of craftsmanship in
their illustrative art. Hence, for well over one hundred years, these original engravings have attracted serious collectors who recognize both the historic and artistic value of these images. In fact, one of the first avid collectors of these engravings was Vincent Van Gogh, who, for several years, entertained thoughts of working as an illustrative artist for the publication. |
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During the second half of the nineteenth century, periodicals, journals and magazines such as 'Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper', 'Every Saturday', 'The Aldine' and 'Harper's Weekly', in the United States, and 'The Illustrated London News', 'The Illustrated London Almanack', and 'The Graphic', in England, created pictorial journalism on a grand scale. Wood engraving (invented around 1780) at last made it possible for publishers to print images and words on the same page without the extravagant costs of producing etchings or engravings from metal plates. From about 1850 engraving upon wood became the dominant means of distributing information along with pictorial imagery, and continued in this role until around 1900, when the practical application of photography took control. |
| Size: |
12 1/2 X 9 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate,
height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
| |
Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
| Buy Now |
Price: $265.00 US |
| Condition: |
Printed upon nineteenth century wove paper and with full
margins as published in London in 1874. In fine condition throughout
without a trace of toning. "The Cotter's Child" represents a superb,
original example of the early color wood engraving and one of the finest
works of art to appear in the "Illustrated London News". |
| Subject: |
Leighton Brothers, Leighton Brothers, Illustrated London News, "The Cotter's
Child", Irish farmers, Original Color Wood Engraving, early example, Vincent
Van Gogh, color print making of the nineteenth century. |
| Important Information: |
The artist biographies, research and or information pertaining to all the original works of art posted on our pages has been written and designed by Greg & Connie Peters exclusively for our site, (www.artoftheprint.com). Please visit us regularly to view the latest artworks offered for sale. We will soon be posting an update of our most recent research and include the biographical and historical information pertaining to our next collection of original works of art created by artists throughout the centuries. We hope you found the information you were looking for and that it has been beneficial.
Our Gallery, (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com) guarantees the authenticity of every work of art we sell 100%. Full documentation and certification is provided. We offer a wide selection of international fine art dating from the early Renaissance to the contemporary art period. |
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