Drawing
1866 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A caricature of the supposed author of an adverse review in the "Athenaeum" for the book "The Hatchet Throwers". The illustration depicts a man sitting at a desk writing a letter surrounding by papers and books.
Attached to the drawing is a cutting of the offending review and a manuscript copy of a letter of protest addressed by the artist to the editor of "The Athenaeum", together with cuttings of favourable reviews.
Attached to the drawing is a cutting of the offending review and a manuscript copy of a letter of protest addressed by the artist to the editor of "The Athenaeum", together with cuttings of favourable reviews.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen, ink and watercolour |
| Brief description | Ernest Griset, illustration and collage of reviews for 'The Hatchet Throwers' written by James Greenwood |
| Physical description | A caricature of the supposed author of an adverse review in the "Athenaeum" for the book "The Hatchet Throwers". The illustration depicts a man sitting at a desk writing a letter surrounding by papers and books. Attached to the drawing is a cutting of the offending review and a manuscript copy of a letter of protest addressed by the artist to the editor of "The Athenaeum", together with cuttings of favourable reviews. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by H.H. Harrod |
| Bibliographic reference | This illustration is in response to mixed reviews of "The Hatchet Throwers" by James Greenwood (first published 1866) illustrated by Ernest Griset. Many of the reviews summarise the work as the voyage of three ancient mariners exploring the world. People of colour are described as 'savages' and one newspaper illustrated behind the main figure is titled 'Jamaica and the Negro Question'. A hand-written letter by Griset in response to a damning review in the Athenaeum is pasted onto the sheet. The review reads: 'We fail to see any drollery in this dismal book...It comes out at an unfortunate time when we are not disposed to consider relations between the black and white races as a joke'. Griset replies that this point is 'so astounding' and demands that the reviewer 'show what on earth the work has to do with relations between the black and white races'. The Athenaeum refused to print this letter. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.779-1948 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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