Frank Reynolds, R.I.   By: Alfred E. Johnson (1879-)

FRANK REYNOLDS, R. I.

BY A. E. JOHNSON

CONTAINING 46 EXAMPLES OF THE ARTIST'S WORK IN BRUSH, PEN, AND PENCIL

PREFACTORY NOTE

In presenting under the title of "Brush, Pen, and Pencil" the series of books of which the present volume forms part, the publishers feel that they are meeting a demand which has long existed but has hitherto not been supplied. It is an unfortunate circumstance of the conditions which affect the modern artist who chooses black and white for his principal medium, that as a general rule his work or, at all events, the reproduction of it is ephemeral only. In respect of much that appears in the illustrated Press this is small matter for regret; but there is good reason to believe that opportunities of obtaining in permanent form some record of the work of the leading men amongst those artists who work for the Press would be welcomed. It is to afford such opportunities that the present series is issued; and it is hoped that in the volumes composing it the public will have pleasure in finding representative examples of the work with brush, pen, and pencil of the men whose skill and fancy have from time to time delighted them.

For permission to reproduce a very large number of the drawings by Mr. Frank Reynolds which appear in the present volume the publishers wish to acknowledge the courtesy of the proprietors of the Sketch , in the pages of which they first appeared. Their thanks are equally due to Messrs. Bradbury, Agnew & Co. Ltd. for kind permission to reproduce three drawings from the pages of Punch .

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

IN COLOUR

TONY WELLER OF THE BELLE SAUVAGE THE INTRODUCTION FRIVOLITY THE WARRENER

IN BLACK AND WHITE

STUDY IN PENCIL PEN AND INK DRAWING FROM "PUNCH" WORKING PARIS AT LUNCHEON THE DARE DEVILS "CHACUN" WITH HIS "CHACUNE" BETHNAL GREEN THE REAL ARTIST NOTE FROM A PARIS SKETCH BOOK THE SUBURBANITE FIRST SKETCH FOR THE SUBURBANITE A GOOD STUDY PEN AND INK DRAWING FROM "PUNCH" A TRAGEDY IN MINIATURE OUR CLUB HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE LE 'IGH KICK A SPEECH AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FELIX OF THE "LAPIN AGILE" VIVE L'ARMÉE "GAZED ON HAROLD" FROM A PARIS SKETCH BOOK THE DES(S)ERTS OF BOHEMIA GOING IT!

Also Nineteen smaller illustrations mostly reproduced from sketch books

[Illustration: STUDY IN PENCIL]

FRANK REYNOLDS. I.

It has been said of Tolstoy, anatomising the grim skeleton of human nature, that his writings are more like life than life itself. Of Frank Reynolds, with gently satirical pen and pencil depicting the superficial humours of modern life, it might be said that his drawings, too, are more humanly natural than real flesh and blood. It is the peculiar faculty of the true observer that his eye pierces straight to the heart of what he sees, and his mind, disregarding mere detail, thereby receives and retains a clear perception of the essential, which those of less clear and direct vision fail to grasp more than momentarily, though they hail it with instant recognition when in its naked simplicity it is set before them. The process is unconscious, or at least but semi conscious; for your professed observer has never that keen insight which, being native, is not to be acquired by even the most assiduous practice, and alone permits of truthful analysis.

[Illustration]