Bellew, Frank P.W. “Chip”

Pen-and-ink illustration for “Life” magazine, depicting two contemporary minstrels entertaining an 18th-century king

8-7/8 x 12-3/4 inches, ca. 1890. Fine. Signed by the artist.

Puck Magazine was established in 1876 by Joseph Keppler, a former cartoonist for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated. Originally a German-language magazine, an English version appeared in 1877. The drawing on the front page of Puck and the double-spread in the middle were political in character, while the one on the back cover usually dealt with social issues. Joseph Keppler had traditional views on the role of women and never tired of poking fun at those involved in the campaign for women's suffrage. Nor did he show much sympathy for the emerging trade union movement. The magazine was purchased by the Hearst organization in 1917, and closed the following year. Frank Henry Temple Bellew (1828-1888) was born in India, lived in France and England, and came to the US in 1850. Settling in New York, he worked as a caricaturist, cartoonist and comic illustrator, contributing to many comic journals and books. His son (1862-1894) following in his father's footsteps before his untimely death, was a comic draftsman of uncommon talent, and did much work for the old "Life" magazine. He signed his work "Chip", and a selection of his humorous drawings, "Chip's Dogs" was published in 1895

Item #227300       Price: $250.00