Charles Edmund Brock (1870–1938) - Late 19C Pen and Ink Drawing My Little Ones

Description

An original illustration from a chapter from Charles Lamb's short story "The Dream-Children" from his book The Essays Of Elia. Rendered in pen and ink, this bittersweet scene shows a father resting in his armchair as the ghosts of his children gather around him. The scene is filled with love as the children's ghostly forms rest their hands on their father's shoulder and hold his hand in theirs. The artist has rendered the ghostly figures with great skill and their transparency is captured perfectly.

The artist has signed and dated to the lower right corner and inscribed to the lower right. The drawing is handsomely presented in an early 20th Century frame with a gilt effect inner window and the original glazing, The drawing is in a grey/blue mount.

On wove.

Condition

The drawing is in remarkable condition given its age with no discolouration or foxing. The frame has some surface scuffs and the gilt inner window has some tarnishing.

Size

28 x 17.2cm (11" x 6.8")
Framed Size: 48 x 36.8cm (18.9" x 14.5")

Artist Biography

Brock received his first book commission at the age of 20 in 1890. He became very successful, and illustrated books for authors such as Jonathan Swift, William Thackeray, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and George Eliot. Brock also contributed pieces to several magazines such as The Quiver, The Strand, and Pearsons. He used the Cambridge college libraries for his "picture research." In illustration Brock is best known for his line work, initially working in the tradition of Hugh Thomson, but he was also a skilled colourist. As a painter he received plaudits for his realism and vibrancy he created in his work. Only a small quantity of his paintings have been located which is why their prices have been so high.
Unequivocally the most famous and valuable paintings in Brock's career were his golf paintings – The Bunker; The Drive; and The Putt – all of which were painted in 1894 as part of the same series. These paintings were acquired together by a Japanese collector in 1991 for $1.5 million.

Brock published 109 illustrations in Punch between 6 February 1901 and 30 March 1910. He output in Punch tapered off after 1905 and he did not publish any more work in Punch after 1910. Brock continued to work on book illustration and on portraits. Some of the portraits by Brock in national collections date from the 1920. He continued to illustrate books right up until his death, with Gunby Hadath's Pamela: A Story for Girls (1938) being one of the last books he illustrated. Books he was working on at the time of his death were completed by other illustrators. Brock was one of the twenty leading illustrators selected by Percy Bradshaw for a portfolio in his 1917/1918 The Art of the Illustrator.

Brock was an occasional exhibitor at various venues. He died on 28 February 1938 in Cambridge.