New Matrimonial Ladder (c1853)

September 10, 2017 at 9:32 pm (books, entertainment, history) (19th century england, artists, books, books and reading)

In search of images by artist Thomas Onwhyn (c1814-1886), also known as Samuel Weller (under which name he did “illegitimate” illustrations of works by Charles Dickens), I came across a wonderful blog post at BOOKTRYST. Onwhyn illustrated his own version of a book I fell in love with when first coming across The Matrimonial Ladder (1825).

Onwhyn’s version – called (surprise) A New Matrimonial Ladder – of the “tale” has charm, and you see above his deft handing of scenery (many of his drawings were published by Rock & Co., London), with the cliffs in the background. It is a hard choice – like choosing between the prettiness of Brock or the allure of Hugh Thomson when discussing illustrations of Jane Austen novels.

The drawings of “M.E.” (above) have much in common with such delightful books as Mrs. Hurst Dancing (drawings of Diana Sperling) or A Picture History of the Grenville Family of Rosedale House (drawings of Mary Yelloly).

I think you will enjoy BOTH (online) “books”.

• MORE Thomas Onwhyn:
  • Onwhyn’s Pictures of London
  • Boz and Weller at Christie’s auction house: Pickwick Papers (2008)
  • “A Railway Adventure“, an 1841 “comic strip” at Princeton
  • For sale: “Nothing to Wear” (1858), at ABE Books
  • Thomas Onwhyn at The Online Books Page
  • “The Love Match” (1845) is a story along the lines of the Matrimonial Ladder
  • drawings by Onwhyn at National Trust venues