Victorian Illustrators from Sketch to Print

Intoduction

It started with a sketch. Perhaps it was revised, refined, transformed by paint or ink. From there, the illustration was transferred by hand onto a piece of wood, stone, or metal and printed on a press — sometimes in color, but most often in black and white. The result could be as varied as a miniature in a children’s book or a full-page image in a magazine.

The Victorian era remains unrivalled in both the number and variety of illustrated books which were printed for readers of all ages and economic levels. This exhibit showcases a sampling of works by British illustrators active during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), from the caricaturist George Cruikshank to the aesthete Aubrey Beardsley.