Harper's Magazine
Poster
1895 (issued)
1895 (issued)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This poster is a lithograph printed in three colours. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper.
Subjects Depicted
For this poster The Beggarstaffs (brothers-in-law James Pryde and William Newzam Prior Nicholson) designed the image of a Yeoman of the Guard, or Beefeater. They thought it might be suitable as an advertisement for beef extract or for a theatrical production. However, it was eventually bought by the proprietors of Harper's Magazine (founded in the USA in 1850), who reproduced it widely to publicise their magazine.
The Beggarstaffs insisted on retaining artistic control over their design, hand-painting the lettering of the text, and harmoniously incorporating the text panel into the main design by extending the red background into a strip around it. Even their signature is part of the design. The use of a single dramatic image (the yeoman, seen from behind, with his lance cutting diagonally across the picture frame), and of broad areas of flat colour is typical of their work.
This poster is a lithograph printed in three colours. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper.
Subjects Depicted
For this poster The Beggarstaffs (brothers-in-law James Pryde and William Newzam Prior Nicholson) designed the image of a Yeoman of the Guard, or Beefeater. They thought it might be suitable as an advertisement for beef extract or for a theatrical production. However, it was eventually bought by the proprietors of Harper's Magazine (founded in the USA in 1850), who reproduced it widely to publicise their magazine.
The Beggarstaffs insisted on retaining artistic control over their design, hand-painting the lettering of the text, and harmoniously incorporating the text panel into the main design by extending the red background into a strip around it. Even their signature is part of the design. The use of a single dramatic image (the yeoman, seen from behind, with his lance cutting diagonally across the picture frame), and of broad areas of flat colour is typical of their work.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Harper's Magazine |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph, inks on paper |
| Brief description | 'Harper's Magazine'; Poster advertising the periodical; Depicting a graphic image of a yeoman of the guard (viewed from behind); Signed; Colour lithograph on paper; Great Britain; 1895. |
| Physical description | 'Harper's Magazine'; Poster advertising the periodical; (Almost) square poster in red with graphic image in black (with white ruff, grey face & staff) of a yeoman of the guard (viewed from behind); Signed underneath, black on white, 'Beggarstaffs'; There is a rectangle of white on the proper-left inscribed in a bold and unusual typeface, 'HARPER'S is the largest and most popular MAGAZINE ...'; Colour lithograph on paper. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The partnership known as The Beggarstaffs created their Yeoman (Beefeater) design as a speculative poster - perhaps for beef extract or for the operetta 'The Yeoman of the Guard'. Harper's of New York actually bought it to advertise the European edition of their magazine. The bold, unconventional design lettered by the artists themselves, earned widespread praise.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | © Desmond Banks |
| Object history | Designed by The Beggarstaffs, a partnership between James Ferrier Pryde (born in Edinburgh, 1866, died in London, 1941) and Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (born in Newark-upon-Trent, Nottinghamshire, 1872, died in Blewbury, Berkshire, 1949) Issued by Harper's Magazine, New York. The Beggarstaffs (ie. James Ferrier Pryde & Sir William Newzam Nicholson) created their Yeoman of the Guard [Beefeater] design as a speculative poster, originally thinking it would make a good advertisement for extract of beef, or for Gilbert & Sullivan's opera 'The Yeoman of the Guard'. Rejected for both purposes, the design was sold by The Artistic Supply Company to Harper's of New York (a pioneer of the artistic poster) who used it to advertise the European edition of their magazine. The Beggarstaffs insisted on designing the lettering as well as the image of the poster, and when it was posted up (all over Britain) , it triggered much favourable and critical comment for its bold, unconventional composition. |
| Production | Copyrighted in America, 1895 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This poster is a lithograph printed in three colours. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. Subjects Depicted For this poster The Beggarstaffs (brothers-in-law James Pryde and William Newzam Prior Nicholson) designed the image of a Yeoman of the Guard, or Beefeater. They thought it might be suitable as an advertisement for beef extract or for a theatrical production. However, it was eventually bought by the proprietors of Harper's Magazine (founded in the USA in 1850), who reproduced it widely to publicise their magazine. The Beggarstaffs insisted on retaining artistic control over their design, hand-painting the lettering of the text, and harmoniously incorporating the text panel into the main design by extending the red background into a strip around it. Even their signature is part of the design. The use of a single dramatic image (the yeoman, seen from behind, with his lance cutting diagonally across the picture frame), and of broad areas of flat colour is typical of their work. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 4/A8 - V&A microfiche |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.33-1951 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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