JOHN 'HB' DOYLE (1797-1868) TWO OF 'HB'S SKETCHES'
| Note: |
John Doyle was born in Dublin and moved to London in 1822 where he initially worked as a portrait lithographer. In 1827 Doyle began publishing political prints anonymously. From 1829-1851 Doyle published his well-known Political Sketches series, signing his work with the initials "HB" to hide his identity. He was the paternal grandfather of Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote of him "My father was the youngest son of John Doyle, who under the nom de crayon of "H. B." made a great reputation in London from about 1825 to 1850. He came from Dublin about the year 1815 and may be said to be the father of polite caricature, for in the old days satire took the brutal shape of making the object grotesque in features and figure. Gilray and Rowlandson had no other idea. My grandfather was a gentleman, drawing gentlemen for gentlemen, and the satire lay in the wit of the picture and not in the mis-drawing of faces. This was a new idea, but it has been followed by most caricaturists since and so has become familiar. There were no comic papers in those days, and the weekly cartoon of "H. B." was lithographed and distributed. He exerted, I am told, quite an influence upon politics, and was on terms of intimacy with many of the leading men of the day. I can remember him in his old age, a very handsome and dignified man with features of the strong Anglo-Irish, Duke of Wellington stamp. He died in 1868." |
| Estimate: |
£100 - £200
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|
Hammer price:
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£90 |
Bidding ended. Lot has been sold.
'Breaking in the Reform Colt', no. 365, depicting King William IV (1765-1837) and Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt (1788-1850) driving a horse drawn cart as other noble gentleman run alongside, coloured lithograph, 28cm x 38.5cm; 'Swing Caught at Last', no. 366, depicting Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Bt (1788-1850) presenting Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868), Lord Chancellor and accomplices to King William IV (1765-1837) and John Bull, coloured lithograph, 27.5cm x 35.5cm; together with a similar satirical political print 'Symptoms of Ejection and Rejection' presumed to be by Thomas Hood, coloured lithograph, 27.5cm x 37.5cm (3)
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