George Du Maurier, the Satirist of the Victorians   By: T. Martin Wood

A Review of His Art and Personality

by

T. MARTIN WOOD

With Forty One Illustrations

London Chatto & Windus

1913

[Illustration:

George du Maurier

From a portrait in water colour by himself.

In the possession of the Artist's widow.]

PREFACE

Du Maurier worked for periodicals which buried in a back number each phase of his work as it came to an end. Thus it is that he is, unfortunately, chiefly now remembered by the last the most accessible, but not by any means the finest period of his work.

The present book is an attempt to correct this and to bring forward du Maurier's name again in the light of his earlier achievement.

No book on the artist, however, would be complete which omitted all reference to his literary attainment; nor would it be in order in an essay of this extent not to seek to demonstrate that connection which always exists between the life and the work of an artist of distinctive temperament. The author has endeavoured, in the chapter devoted to outlining the main incidents of du Maurier's career, to regard the feeling of his representatives that the autobiography of the novels is itself so complete and sensitive as scarcely to call at present for anything supplemental. He wishes to acknowledge the kindness of the artist's family in lending him portraits, sketch books, and manuscript with the permission for reproduction; also of Mr. W. Lawrence Bradbury, so zealous a guardian of all that redounds to the fame of his great journal, for every kind of assistance; and of Sir Francis Burnand, du Maurier's Editor and comrade, for letters assisting him to form an impression of du Maurier in the flesh. Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. have also been generous in allowing the reproduction of the four drawings included here, which appeared originally in the Cornhill Magazine . The author only wishes that he felt that what he has written more justified this consideration from everyone who was approached in connection with his undertaking.

CONTENTS

I. THE WORLD OF DU MAURIER

II. THE ART OF DU MAURIER

III. DU MAURIER AS AUTHOR

IV. LIFE OF THE ARTIST

V. THE ILLUSTRATIONS

ILLUSTRATIONS

GEORGE DU MAURIER, from a Portrait in Water colour by Himself (Frontispiece)

ILLUSTRATION FOR "RECOLLECTIONS OF AN ENGLISH GOLD MINE": Once a Week , 1861

"THE CILICIAN PIRATES": The Cornhill, 1863

ILLUSTRATION FOR "WIVES AND DAUGHTERS": The Cornhill , 1864

ILLUSTRATION FOR "WIVES AND DAUGHTERS": The Cornhill , 1865

SKETCH FOR ABOVE

PENCIL STUDIES FROM THE ARTIST'S SKETCH BOOK

ILLUSTRATION FOR "A LEGEND OF CAMELOT" PART III: Punch , 1866

INITIAL LETTER FROM The Cornhill

ILLUSTRATION FOR "THE STORY OF A FEATHER": 1867

ILLUSTRATION FOR "THE STORY OF A FEATHER": 1867

"CAUTION": Punch , 1867

BERKELEY SQUARE, 5 P.M.: Punch , 1867

ILLUSTRATION FOR "ESMOND"

ILLUSTRATION FOR "THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY RICHMOND": The Cornhill , 1870

ILLUSTRATION FOR "THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY RICHMOND": The Cornhill , 1871

"PROXY": Punch's Almanack , 1874

QUEEN PRIMA DONNA AT HOME: Punch , 1874

HONOUR WHERE HONOUR is DUE: Punch , 1880

CANON AINGER, from a Portrait in Water colour by du Maurier

THE MUTUAL ADMIRATIONISTS: Punch , 1880

MANUSCRIPT

GEORGE DU MAURIER, from a Photograph

SPEED THE PARTING GUEST: Punch , 1883

SKETCH FOR INITIAL LETTER IN The Cornhill , 1883

"Sic TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI!" Punch , 1884

POST PRANDIAL PESSIMISTS: Punch , 1892

THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE EXPRESSED DIFFERENTLY: Punch , 1893

There are also several Tailpieces, chronologically arranged

GEORGE DU MAURIER

I

THE WORLD OF DU MAURIER

§1