Kyd's studies of Charles Dickens characters

Collection — Box: BW-28

Identifier: MS-0597

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These sketches are characteristic of Kyd's work: the freelance illustrator made his living by selling his illustrations of Dickens's characters to publishers. His drawings capture the characters' personalities and eccentricities, employing elements of caricature. In one, strict and steady Mary Anne Perkinsop, who worked at Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings, carries a pitcher with her nose in the air. An illustrated title page with the design of a bookshelf and a table of contents are also included, creating a nice package that could easily be presented to a publisher. Original wrappers, bearing the title "Miscellaneous Pieces," are split but present. Cover page slightly toned, else fine and bright. Housed in a cloth chemise.

Quarto portfolio containing twelve original pen and watercolor sketches, each signed with the artist's pseudonym. The illustrations depict characters from six short stories by Charles Dickens

Dates

Creation: circa 1920s

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Clayton Clarke (1856-1937), who worked under the pseudonym 'Kyd', was a British artist best known for his pen-and-watercolor illustrations of the characters from the novels of Charles Dickens. By the 1920s, when these 12 miscellaneous pieces were made, Clarke earned his living from Dickens' characters sketches, which he sold to and through the London book trade.