I find it particularly fascinating to look at the evolution of Austen's artstyle over time: if I had been shown illustrations from different period of his career without context, I would have not been able to identify those as the work of the same artist.
Such an amazing illustrator! Thank you once again, Pete, for sharing the beautiful and forgotten or unknown work for those of us who love fine illustration! ❤ Shirley
Exquisitely decadent, but with solid drawing and design. I knew of his chums, Austin Osman Spare and Harry Clarke, but Austen is new to me. Thanks for this excellent introduction, Pete.
Thanks for the comment. I must admit i only recently encountered the remarkable and strange work of Osman Spare. I was going to feature him but I'm not convinced he was what could legitimately be called an illustrator. Very much art for art's sake I think.
This is the stuff I love. Where one can bear witness to the craftsmanship matched with an artistic vision held tightly bound by a work ethic and attention to minute detail.
Whether or not one appreciated John Austen's work, he was adept at a variety of illustrative styles. His compositional skills were apparent in his work, regardless of the media he used. As always, you have presented the artist and his works with style and respect.
Thanks as ever for your comment and appreciation. In all honesty other than Hamlet and the Frogs I'm quite indifferent to Austen's work and find it lacking in humanity. So I'm glad my personal view didn't come across in the video.
George Macy of the US Limited Editions Club was John Austen's Number One Fan. 15 years younger, his correspondence with Austen up to his illness and death is moving beyond words. Set against the backdrop of WWII the personal background to the uncompleted Faerie Queen commission speaks so well about all involved especially the final illustrator Agnes Miller Parker. I have often seen the 2 volume set at auction and though the illustrations are not to my taste they are a gem in the LEC history and its long production across 15 years a testament to Austen's vision and ambitions. Thank you for a GREAT 2nd video on him. It does him proud. Some of Mervyn Peake's Treasure Island drawings are on show at the British Library to accompany the Fantasy expo. I have booked my daughter and me to go to a talk on him on Saturday the 24th February next year by one of the 2 Professors Robert Maslen and chaired by Matthew Sangster who will be good on the writings but NOT good on the drawings which would be better served by you, Mr Beard.
@@neillgj Hello again and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. And your additional information has explained some of the gaps in my own knowledge about Austen's life. I wondered why Agnes Miller parker's images kept popping up on my searches and now I realise why.
When Austen left London for Kent he left the Odles behind and took up gardening and buying several fields which he tilled and planted and reaped with others. He had shorn off his long London Aesthete hair and would work without a shirt and strip to dive his bony body into a chilling brook. Mrs Alan Odle was Dorothy Richardson 15 years older than Austen and whom we would (wrongly) dismiss as an armchair socialist. Her collection of self-novels under the collected title Pilgrimage are worth a struggle and would be published by Persephone if they were to be revived. 40 years ago a batch of Austen material showed at Christies and it had many autographed and works dedicated to each other and that may have extended to Clarke. I remember the sweet and faded charm of it all. There is a story of Austen coming up from Kent to meet Macy in a Club in London to discuss The Old Wives' Tale. It was during the Blitz and Macy looked out through a gap in the blackout curtains to see the even slighter Austen trip along the wet paving. The smaller US trade single volume edition did not use the Austen originals but had another artist copy them. I do not know why but they are nearly facsimile but not quite.
Thank you Mr. Beard, another wonderful presentation. I must compliment your writing. When something is so good, sometimes it goes noticed, especially commentary over beautiful images. It just struck me that through these many presentations that your writing has been exemplary and actually the aspect which keeps me engaged, time after time.
Thanks a lot for that thought. I've never been much of a writer but I realised that I actually enjoyed writing for narration as it's much freer of the constraints of conventional grammar.
What a great overview of this illustrators work. I especially liked the way that the chosen images showed his stylistic evolution. Thanks, Pete, for another excellent video.
My goodness, I am so sorry that I had never heard of this man before now. I am blown away by those Greek warriors in those wild colors, and I have just got to find a print of it. This was a delightful eye opener,and I thank you for turning me on to this art.
As usual, a highlight to my week and interest in art and so many forgotten artists. I particularly enjoy his fine line work. So light and yet complete. Tnx!
Captivating and so incredibly detailed in it's elegance and style. Austen is very amazing in his artistry. ❤ Thanks for getting the prints and the information on his life's work. It is a blessing to see the fine lines of his skills and his approach that display such emotional reactions to his various styles and techniques. Sensuous and delicate yet powerful in the abundance of the details. Stunning images.!
Great video again Pete. Austen was always one of my favorite line artists. It was like having another Clarke or Beardsley around in the middle of the 20th century. I had a couple of the Heritage editions. What you mentioned about his income coming mainly from America was true for other illustrators as well. Almost all of Dulac's commissions after WWII were from George Macy (LEC) or WR Hearst, corporate head of King Syndicators and The American Weekly. They both supported many of the European illustrators, both in Europe and the US immigrants after the war.
Hi Albert and thanks as ever for your comment and appreciation. My personal view of Austen's later work is less than favourable and I don't know if he was but he should have been grateful for the lifeline offered by Macy. He couldn't have got arrested in mainstream commercial publishing. Good to know my personal disdain didn't reveal itself in the narration.
@@petebeard He had such an incredible range of styles! I especially like the earlier line drawings. Since your video was posted on Jane Austen's birthday....and I am a fan of Jane...I almost assumed John was a relative. I could not determine that he was but I do have a book written by her nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh illustrated with his silhouettes (a personal favorite!).
I knew about Osman Spare, but this illustrator was new to me. That 1922 'Hamlet'! Of course, Hamlet was born to be inked, for as he says: "'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black". Rather than go crazy in an antiquarian bookshop online (Abe Books has an original for £1637.83) I have bought myself a repro print of that 'Dramatis Personae' image. It is a bit heavily editorialising in a puppets of Fate way, but fun, and really not all inappropriate. Thanks for this and all your other explorations.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. Harry Clarke will be getting his own video before long but both Osman Spare and Alan Odle are harder to get material for and will be relegated to the unsung hero series when that starts up again next year.
Literally my favourite illustrator, I love when he went art deco. Dorothy Richardson (married Alan Odle) wrpte a short book about him but it just goes off on one about art at the time rather than telling me all the stuff I wanted to know about him! Thank you for the video :)
A thoroughly enjoyable journey through Austin’s work, and, although undoubtedly reminiscent of Beardsley, this man had a lighter hand, somehow. Most compelling and embracing was the depiction of the underlying menace and madness of Hamlet. Even when he chose to change his style during the years, the earlier images made an occasional appearance. Sad to think that he has been forgotten to a large extent. Thank you for another video, another glimpse at a very interesting and talented artist.
How interesting this artist can be! You're right, it's really difficult to ask from period to period / illustration to illustration, that this is the same person. Thanks again for the discovery ! Great job!
Excellent work as usual, Pete. My goodness! If anyone were officially commissioned to continue Beardsley's work, this fellow was it! Good to see the artist's progression, evolving into his own personal style. Thanks.
Pete! I purchased John Austen's 'Persuasion' at Jane Austen's home when I visited there last autumn, so when I saw this video go up I immediately had to watch it! Very nice video! As I watched I could slowly see his style morph into the style that I know in his "Persuasion'. I thought it was interesting that Jane Austen's final completed work and his final illustrated book met in 'Persuasion'. Thank you for another informative and wonderful video! 🥰
Hi to all readers!! This video was splendid. Not only Beardsley and Austin, but also Clarke were excellent decadent illustrators. If you know more about the Decadent Movement, feel free to answer.
Thanks for the comment. I did wonder whether to mention the book but struggled to find any images of particular interest at good resolution (other than some by others) so I left it out altogether.
Fair enough. It's the same with Alan Odle whom you mentioned as he and Austin were friends, his illustrations are very hard to come by. Have only sourced one book. He was very unique.
WOW!!! What an incredibly talented artist. I made the GRAVE mistake of showing this episode to my husband, and all he said at the end was: "Gee, that guy was really into drawing titties." GAH .... I married an oaf. Next year we will have been together 30 years; its starting to feel more like 100 after that.
As an English gentleman of considerable refinement I too should find your husband's coarse observation deplorably vulgar. But the sad truth is I laughed myself silly at your account of his response. I'm still chuckling now. It's just the way men are...
I bought Austen’s illustrated ‘Hamlet’ when I was 18yrs old - and sold it 30yrs later, which I regret as the illustrations are superb. As an artist & illustrator, some sources are worth hanging onto.
When I was at St Martins in the 70's studying fashion I was much influenced by Beardsley and Kay Nielsen and I spent many hours in the V&A studying the Gazette du Bon Ton illustrations. I collect illustrations 'pochoirs' from the Gazette, they are relatively affordable. Other students were in love with Mucha and Klimt and I preferred Kokoshka and Schiele as well as the aforementioned. I had a horrible design teacher who really didn't like me and would always criticise my constant change of illustration design. One day she said in her fake haughty voice when seeing my many designs ' WHy did you draw them on blooody horses' ! I thought it fun to explore techniques, she didn't ! Didn't stop me, much to her chagrin, being first in class !
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the channel. I was also at art school studying graphics design in Leeds in the early 70s, and I got lucky with my tutors, I'm glad to say. When I ended up teaching in 2000 I came across a few among my colleagues who were very much like the tutor you describe, and wanted compliance more than anything else. In the end it's my firm belief that we teach ourselves.
Thank you for this deep look of this amazing artist and while I have to say that I enjoy more his earlier work that the latter I won't blame the guy for wanting to find his own voice rather than being stuck being another Beardsley copycat. Hopefully in the future we get a look at the careers of his fellow illustrators specially Harry Clarke which style I find to be just as intricate and well crafted as Jonh's.
Hello and thanks. And Clarke will be getting his own video some time in the new year. Both the others are harder to find information and images for, but I have enough on both to fit them into an unsung heroes when that starts again next year.
Beautiful illustrations, very interesting. Harry Clarke the Irish stained glass artist and illustrator of books would be a great one to watch, that's if you have not already covered his work. Thank you for such informative enjoyable videos.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Harry Clarke makes an appearance in unsung heroes of illustration 58, but I'm currently working on a full video about him too, similar to this one.
Oddly, but I think you may agree, that the color work is weaker than the simple but dynamic black and white line work. Or, perhaps, it might be better to say that the color doesn't enhance or improve the drawings. The craftsmanship is still there but, as you point out, detracts from the power of his design and line. Curious as to what Austen himself thought of some of the final, published results of his work. I know sometimes publishers think more is better ("More color! More color!"). How much control did Austen have over his own work? A great look into the work another illustrator. Thanks again Pete, and best wishes for the holidays!
Hi Doug, and yes I absolutely agree with you on that score. Truth be told I'm actually quite indifferent to his work and find it lacking humanity - apart from Hamlet and the Frogs. And I suspect he worked mainly for limited editions was precisely so he did have more control as an 'artist'. Give me Krazy Kat any day.
There is always the question -- legitimate or not -- of how the artist reacts to his times. Your long and varied catalog has featured talented out-and-out Communists, equally talented Italian futurist Fascists, war-bond poster illustrators, depictions -- whether reasonably lifelike or Goyaesque horrors -- of the faces of the time. Austen is notable in this assembly by his complete ABSENCE of any observable leanings in this direction! That stylized company in 1820s uniforms, the Homeric warriors -- no more. But of course we live in a time whose 'activists' insist -- and are willing to destroy for it -- that there is nothing outside the purview of 'politics.' And yet here is Austen, creating his art very much on the other side of a modernly-established 'event horizon!' He is superficially very much in tune with certain modern tendencies. But in others completely removed. A dichotomy necessary for any true art, and yet -- would it be possible today?
Thanks again for your observations. I don't know why as there isn't much rcorded about him but I get the feeling that Austen (and his chums) were so wrapped up in their closeted narcissism they had little time for more real world concerns. Pure speculation on my part.
@@petebeard That's what I would infer from their artwork, but who knows really? The folklorist Bilibin came back to the present to do some work for the Soviets, as well as some of his German counterparts who crafted work for or against that Movement that made such wide (mis)use of that folklore.
Hello and thanks for the comment. But the actual original for that was by Edmund J. Sullivan. If you want to se his work it features in unsung heroes 49. Oh how those 60s boys loved to steal...
Old Austin went from 'good' to 'Great' to 'Wonderful' to 'Ho-hum 'without even realizing what happened! Should have stuck to 'Beardsley'! Also, and by the way, his wife must have been quiet the looker!
Hi again and I must confess I share your opinion of his decline. Other than the woodcuts for the Frogs I find the later stuff lacking in humanity, but I hope that personal view wasn't evident in my narration.
youtube is interrupting this video mid-sentence with ads! It's disrespectful to your wonderful work chronicling the history of illustration. Ads at the beginning or ends of episodes are fine, but interrupting willy-nilly is annoying.
You're right - it is annoying. Especially as they state they they won't do that. Sadly it's something over whivh I have no control. Even if I elect to demonitize the channel they can still put ads on and give me nothing.
@@petebeard I’m sorry you can’t do anything about it. Nonetheless, you have a great channel, worth enduring the interruptions. Thank you for all your time and effort put into it! 🔥✒️🖤🖋️🔥
One of the people in the Bookplate identification and collecting- exlibris FB group collects Hannu Paalasmaa. I don't see him on your backlist. Is he under consideration for the future?
Austen’s Ophelia - huge eyes with only a faintly troubled expression. Doll-like face, perfect lips and breasts. She looks adorable. Far from the much earlier John Everett Millais painting of drowning Ophelia. But there’s a difference between illustration and the fine art of a British peer. It was only then, looking at Austen’s Ophilia, that I realized what makes illustrators such singular talents. They achieve artistic expression within the confines of a made to order trade. I know you know that, Pete. Better than anyone. I, however, can be a bit slow 😂
Thanks again for another favourable comment. As it happens in my lifetime I have spent many hours gazing in admiration at Millais' painting as it's in the Manchester art gallery, along with a large number of other great pre-Raphaelite works.
@@petebeard No doubt. I'm but a tourist in the world you've known, Pete. The career I recently retired from was video games where actual artists are few. Mostly on the concept side. They bravely tried to educate me over the years 😂 It's not a pure oversight. Rather it has everything to do with how computer graphics are rendered at present. But the concept artists are, thankfully, there and critically important.
Already done (to an extent). He appears in unsung heroes of illustration 88. There just isn't enough information/visual material to make a solo video, unfortunately.
Oh how the world has changed Kent isn't very rural anymore it is in my opinion, its realy a big Suburban region to London, from my perspective as a Californian it is a bit comparable to the likes of Orange and Ventura counties of Larger Cosmopolitan Los Angeles County.
Literally my favourite illustrator, I love when he went art deco. Dorothy Richardson (married Alan Odle) wrpte a short book about him but it just goes off on one about art at the time rather than telling me all the stuff I wanted to know about him! Thank you for the video :)
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Another great class in underappreciated illustrators and tthe paths they took. Thank you Mr Beard.
Thanks as ever for your positive comment.
Thank you, glad I found this channel
Another wonderful tale of an exceptional Artist. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciaton.
Love his work. So beautiful!
🤍🖤🤍🖤
Yet another wonderful illustrator I never before heard of. Thank you, my friend.
It's a pleasure to make the introduction.
I find it particularly fascinating to look at the evolution of Austen's artstyle over time: if I had been shown illustrations from different period of his career without context, I would have not been able to identify those as the work of the same artist.
Thanks a lot for your comment and observation about his work.
Such an amazing illustrator! Thank you once again, Pete, for sharing the beautiful and forgotten or unknown work for those of us who love fine illustration!
❤ Shirley
It's great that you bother to voice your favourable opinion of the content, so thanks to you for that.
Exquisitely decadent, but with solid drawing and design. I knew of his chums, Austin Osman Spare and Harry Clarke, but Austen is new to me. Thanks for this excellent introduction, Pete.
Thanks for the comment. I must admit i only recently encountered the remarkable and strange work of Osman Spare. I was going to feature him but I'm not convinced he was what could legitimately be called an illustrator. Very much art for art's sake I think.
@@petebeard yes, Osman Spare liked to dabble in the occult and used his art to that end, to a great extent. Fascinating artist.
i’m very pleased with the accuracy of the costumery in his depictions of stories throughout the ages.
he definitely did his research.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comments and appreciation.
This is the stuff I love. Where one can bear witness to the craftsmanship matched with an artistic vision held tightly bound by a work ethic and attention to minute detail.
Thanks as ever for your comment.
Whether or not one appreciated John Austen's work, he was adept at a variety of illustrative styles. His compositional skills were apparent in his work, regardless of the media he used. As always, you have presented the artist and his works with style and respect.
Thanks as ever for your comment and appreciation. In all honesty other than Hamlet and the Frogs I'm quite indifferent to Austen's work and find it lacking in humanity. So I'm glad my personal view didn't come across in the video.
George Macy of the US Limited Editions Club was John Austen's Number One Fan. 15 years younger, his correspondence with Austen up to his illness and death is moving beyond words. Set against the backdrop of WWII the personal background to the uncompleted Faerie Queen commission speaks so well about all involved especially the final illustrator Agnes Miller Parker.
I have often seen the 2 volume set at auction and though the illustrations are not to my taste they are a gem in the LEC history and its long production across 15 years a testament to Austen's vision and ambitions.
Thank you for a GREAT 2nd video on him. It does him proud.
Some of Mervyn Peake's Treasure Island drawings are on show at the British Library to accompany the Fantasy expo. I have booked my daughter and me to go to a talk on him on Saturday the 24th February next year by one of the 2 Professors Robert Maslen and chaired by Matthew Sangster who will be good on the writings but NOT good on the drawings which would be better served by you, Mr Beard.
@@neillgj Hello again and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. And your additional information has explained some of the gaps in my own knowledge about Austen's life. I wondered why Agnes Miller parker's images kept popping up on my searches and now I realise why.
When Austen left London for Kent he left the Odles behind and took up gardening and buying several fields which he tilled and planted and reaped with others. He had shorn off his long London Aesthete hair and would work without a shirt and strip to dive his bony body into a chilling brook.
Mrs Alan Odle was Dorothy Richardson 15 years older than Austen and whom we would (wrongly) dismiss as an armchair socialist. Her collection of self-novels under the collected title Pilgrimage are worth a struggle and would be published by Persephone if they were to be revived.
40 years ago a batch of Austen material showed at Christies and it had many autographed and works dedicated to each other and that may have extended to Clarke. I remember the sweet and faded charm of it all.
There is a story of Austen coming up from Kent to meet Macy in a Club in London to discuss The Old Wives' Tale. It was during the Blitz and Macy looked out through a gap in the blackout curtains to see the even slighter Austen trip along the wet paving. The smaller US trade single volume edition did not use the Austen originals but had another artist copy them. I do not know why but they are nearly facsimile but not quite.
Thank you Mr. Beard, another wonderful presentation.
I must compliment your writing. When something is so good, sometimes it goes noticed, especially commentary over beautiful images. It just struck me that through these many presentations that your writing has been exemplary and actually the aspect which keeps me engaged, time after time.
Thanks a lot for that thought. I've never been much of a writer but I realised that I actually enjoyed writing for narration as it's much freer of the constraints of conventional grammar.
I did not know him. Thank you for showing his wonderful artwork. He was truly a master of graceful lines.
It's a pleasure to have made the introduction.
What a great overview of this illustrators work. I especially liked the way that the chosen images showed his stylistic evolution. Thanks, Pete, for another excellent video.
Hello and my thanks as ever for your continued support of the channel.
Absolutely fantastic. Yet another artist I’ll be looking for in old books. 🎃
Thank you so much for your marvelous Channel. I enjoy each and every one of your videos.
Many thanks for your appreciative comment.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. And happy hunting for the books.
As much as Beardsley is mentioned, his friendship with Clarke also shows strongly in his early work.
Yes - I didn't want to go into detail about that as I'm also featuring Clarke in another video.
That I'm glad to hear! I had the Poe and the Faust, both were absolute masterpieces.
My goodness, I am so sorry that I had never heard of this man before now. I am blown away by those Greek warriors in those wild colors, and I have just got to find a print of it.
This was a delightful eye opener,and I thank you for turning me on to this art.
Thanks a lot for your comment and I'm pleased to have introduced you to his work.
I much preferred his earlier work, but he was obviously a fine draftsman throughout his career. Thanks for posting.
Me too, although I also like the woodcuts for The Frogs.
thank you for your work Pete, as always.
and your thanks are always welcome.
As usual, a highlight to my week and interest in art and so many forgotten artists.
I particularly enjoy his fine line work. So light and yet complete.
Tnx!
Thanks as ever for the appreciation.
Thanks, Pete! Yet another great artist I was not aware of.
I'm glad to have made the introduction. Thanks for the comment.
Absolutely wonderful.
Im glad you enjoyed it.
Captivating and so incredibly detailed in it's elegance and style. Austen is very amazing in his artistry. ❤
Thanks for getting the prints and the information on his life's work. It is a blessing to see the fine lines of his skills and his approach that display such emotional reactions to his various styles and techniques. Sensuous and delicate yet powerful in the abundance of the details. Stunning images.!
Thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. I'm glad to say it seems to be more thanusually popular with viewers.
Great video again Pete. Austen was always one of my favorite line artists. It was like having another Clarke or Beardsley around in the middle of the 20th century. I had a couple of the Heritage editions. What you mentioned about his income coming mainly from America was true for other illustrators as well. Almost all of Dulac's commissions after WWII were from George Macy (LEC) or WR Hearst, corporate head of King Syndicators and The American Weekly. They both supported many of the European illustrators, both in Europe and the US immigrants after the war.
Hi Albert and thanks as ever for your comment and appreciation. My personal view of Austen's later work is less than favourable and I don't know if he was but he should have been grateful for the lifeline offered by Macy. He couldn't have got arrested in mainstream commercial publishing. Good to know my personal disdain didn't reveal itself in the narration.
I have heard the same said about Picasso's later work.
A great illustratior with a great imagination.
I second that statement.
Wonderful collection / tribute! Thank you :)
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment.
@@petebeard He had such an incredible range of styles! I especially like the earlier line drawings. Since your video was posted on Jane Austen's birthday....and I am a fan of Jane...I almost assumed John was a relative. I could not determine that he was but I do have a book written by her nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh illustrated with his silhouettes (a personal favorite!).
another incredible video. thank you.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Thank you, Pete Beard. I'm arriving a little late, but I really appreciate your work and the artists you are collecting for us.
Better late than never as they say, and welcome to the channel. I hope you'll continue to find content that's of interest to you.
@@petebeard This frustrated artist feels as though she's fallen into heaven on wheels with your channel. 💕
I really love beautiful art like that.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment.
@@petebeard You're welcome
Another brilliant tribute. Thank you.
Thanks as ever for the comment.
Like a literature (literary art class) lesson...
Thank you so much.
🌈💖
You are welcome as always. Thanks.
I knew about Osman Spare, but this illustrator was new to me. That 1922 'Hamlet'! Of course, Hamlet was born to be inked, for as he says: "'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black". Rather than go crazy in an antiquarian bookshop online (Abe Books has an original for £1637.83) I have bought myself a repro print of that 'Dramatis Personae' image. It is a bit heavily editorialising in a puppets of Fate way, but fun, and really not all inappropriate. Thanks for this and all your other explorations.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation. Harry Clarke will be getting his own video before long but both Osman Spare and Alan Odle are harder to get material for and will be relegated to the unsung hero series when that starts up again next year.
Literally my favourite illustrator, I love when he went art deco. Dorothy Richardson (married Alan Odle) wrpte a short book about him but it just goes off on one about art at the time rather than telling me all the stuff I wanted to know about him! Thank you for the video :)
A thoroughly enjoyable journey through Austin’s work, and, although undoubtedly reminiscent of Beardsley, this man had a lighter hand, somehow. Most compelling and embracing was the depiction of the underlying menace and madness of Hamlet. Even when he chose to change his style during the years, the earlier images made an occasional appearance. Sad to think that he has been forgotten to a large extent. Thank you for another video, another glimpse at a very interesting and talented artist.
How interesting this artist can be! You're right, it's really difficult to ask from period to period / illustration to illustration, that this is the same person.
Thanks again for the discovery ! Great job!
Hello again and you are very welcome as usual.
Excellent work as usual, Pete. My goodness! If anyone were officially commissioned to continue Beardsley's work, this fellow was it! Good to see the artist's progression, evolving into his own personal style. Thanks.
Thanks again for your appreciation of the channel content.
These illustrations struck me. I had the video on in the background, but stopped and watched the whole thing. Thank you
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Pete! I purchased John Austen's 'Persuasion' at Jane Austen's home when I visited there last autumn, so when I saw this video go up I immediately had to watch it! Very nice video! As I watched I could slowly see his style morph into the style that I know in his "Persuasion'. I thought it was interesting that Jane Austen's final completed work and his final illustrated book met in 'Persuasion'. Thank you for another informative and wonderful video! 🥰
Hello and many thanks again for your comment, insight and appreciation. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Something for the weekend, great post, cheers..E...😊😊
Hi Eamonn and my thanks as ever for the comment.If we don't communicate again for a while have a good Christmas and New Year.
@@petebeardyou too sir...have a safe and peaceful Christmas and New year...slainte...E....😊😊
From now on, I'll consider all of your work to be a tribute to art. Thanks. Happy Holidays.
Thanks a lot for the comment and seasonal greetings to you too.
Beautiful work! Thank You.
You are very welcome.
I just love this channel. Thank you!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. I'm glad you enjoy the content.
Interesting evolution of an amalgam of styles. Beautifully done.
Thanks a lot for your comment and appreciation of Austen's work.
thank you for your service !
You are very welcome.
Very elegant! I greatly appreciate the excellent writing and presentation of your biographical essays. Thank you Mr. Beard. :)
Hello and many thanks for your comment.
Hi to all readers!! This video was splendid. Not only Beardsley and Austin, but also Clarke were excellent decadent illustrators. If you know more about the Decadent Movement, feel free to answer.
I didn't realize there was a Decadent Movement. I was an avid Mahlon Blaine fan, I'm sure he would qualify.
Hello and thanks. Clarke will feature some time in the new year.
An impressive narration with a knowledgeable and warm analysis of the Austin’s body of work. I enjoyed it!
@@mariellouise1 Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Beautiful tribute as always...
Thanks a lot for the comment.
Another marvelous video! Thanks!!!!
Thanks a lot for your comment.
His book The ABC of pen and ink Rending was instrumental in my illustration education. I believe it is available still
Thanks for the comment. I did wonder whether to mention the book but struggled to find any images of particular interest at good resolution (other than some by others) so I left it out altogether.
Fair enough. It's the same with Alan Odle whom you mentioned as he and Austin were friends, his illustrations are very hard to come by. Have only sourced one book. He was very unique.
WOW!!! What an incredibly talented artist. I made the GRAVE mistake of showing this episode to my husband, and all he said at the end was: "Gee, that guy was really into drawing titties." GAH .... I married an oaf. Next year we will have been together 30 years; its starting to feel more like 100 after that.
As an English gentleman of considerable refinement I too should find your husband's coarse observation deplorably vulgar. But the sad truth is I laughed myself silly at your account of his response. I'm still chuckling now. It's just the way men are...
You always produce wonderful resurch Pete.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciative comment. It's always welcome.
Have a good christmas, thanks for all the great videos. Looking forwards to more, all the best Pete.
...and the same to you. Thanks for your support.
I bought Austen’s illustrated ‘Hamlet’ when I was 18yrs old - and sold it 30yrs later, which I regret as the illustrations are superb. As an artist & illustrator, some sources are worth hanging onto.
Thanks a lot for the comment, and my sympathy for selling the book.
Brilliant, Pete. Another great video portrait. Many thanks...👍
As ever you are always welcome.
When I was at St Martins in the 70's studying fashion I was much influenced by Beardsley and Kay Nielsen and I spent many hours in the V&A studying the Gazette du Bon Ton illustrations. I collect illustrations 'pochoirs' from the Gazette, they are relatively affordable. Other students were in love with Mucha and Klimt and I preferred Kokoshka and Schiele as well as the aforementioned. I had a horrible design teacher who really didn't like me and would always criticise my constant change of illustration design. One day she said in her fake haughty voice when seeing my many designs ' WHy did you draw them on blooody horses' ! I thought it fun to explore techniques, she didn't ! Didn't stop me, much to her chagrin, being first in class !
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the channel. I was also at art school studying graphics design in Leeds in the early 70s, and I got lucky with my tutors, I'm glad to say. When I ended up teaching in 2000 I came across a few among my colleagues who were very much like the tutor you describe, and wanted compliance more than anything else. In the end it's my firm belief that we teach ourselves.
Thank you for this deep look of this amazing artist and while I have to say that I enjoy more his earlier work that the latter I won't blame the guy for wanting to find his own voice rather than being stuck being another Beardsley copycat.
Hopefully in the future we get a look at the careers of his fellow illustrators specially Harry Clarke which style I find to be just as intricate and well crafted as Jonh's.
Hello and thanks. And Clarke will be getting his own video some time in the new year. Both the others are harder to find information and images for, but I have enough on both to fit them into an unsung heroes when that starts again next year.
Beautiful illustrations, very interesting. Harry Clarke the Irish stained glass artist and illustrator of books would be a great one to watch, that's if you have not already covered his work. Thank you for such informative enjoyable videos.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Harry Clarke makes an appearance in unsung heroes of illustration 58, but I'm currently working on a full video about him too, similar to this one.
Thanks, Pete. An artist of of several interesting styles. I especially enjoyed those taken from Macbeth.
Thanks for the comment and I agree about the Hamlet work. A pity he didn't tackle Macbeth though. Othello would have been interesting too.
Another fascinating video; thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment.
Thank you for the inspiration, good to see another one from you.💖
Always a pleasure.
He has a magnificent detail almost fractal style in some of the more frilly ones
Thanks for the comment - and that's a good way to describe his patternmaking process.
Thanks for another informative video Pete, Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Hi John, and the same to you and all the other Collados
Oddly, but I think you may agree, that the color work is weaker than the simple but dynamic black and white line work. Or, perhaps, it might be better to say that the color doesn't enhance or improve the drawings. The craftsmanship is still there but, as you point out, detracts from the power of his design and line. Curious as to what Austen himself thought of some of the final, published results of his work. I know sometimes publishers think more is better ("More color! More color!"). How much control did Austen have over his own work? A great look into the work another illustrator. Thanks again Pete, and best wishes for the holidays!
Hi Doug, and yes I absolutely agree with you on that score. Truth be told I'm actually quite indifferent to his work and find it lacking humanity - apart from Hamlet and the Frogs. And I suspect he worked mainly for limited editions was precisely so he did have more control as an 'artist'. Give me Krazy Kat any day.
I misread that as Jane Austen and was trying to think what incident in the books that thumbnail represented.
Yes it's weird that his last work and hers were the same.
Another great video, thanks!
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Trabalho incrível!
Muito obrigado pelo seu comentário.
thanks again.
My pleasure.
Lovely!
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Oh, I loved this! And I hadn't heard of Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis."
Thanks again for your appreciation of this one.
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There is always the question -- legitimate or not -- of how the artist reacts to his times. Your long and varied catalog has featured talented out-and-out Communists, equally talented Italian futurist Fascists, war-bond poster illustrators, depictions -- whether reasonably lifelike or Goyaesque horrors -- of the faces of the time. Austen is notable in this assembly by his complete ABSENCE of any observable leanings in this direction! That stylized company in 1820s uniforms, the Homeric warriors -- no more. But of course we live in a time whose 'activists' insist -- and are willing to destroy for it -- that there is nothing outside the purview of 'politics.' And yet here is Austen, creating his art very much on the other side of a modernly-established 'event horizon!' He is superficially very much in tune with certain modern tendencies. But in others completely removed. A dichotomy necessary for any true art, and yet -- would it be possible today?
Thanks again for your observations. I don't know why as there isn't much rcorded about him but I get the feeling that Austen (and his chums) were so wrapped up in their closeted narcissism they had little time for more real world concerns. Pure speculation on my part.
@@petebeard That's what I would infer from their artwork, but who knows really? The folklorist Bilibin came back to the present to do some work for the Soviets, as well as some of his German counterparts who crafted work for or against that Movement that made such wide (mis)use of that folklore.
There's a lot of his draftsmanship, composition and execution that remind me of contemporary comic book artist Mike Kaluta, such as 13:37...
I see what you mean, and thanks for the name - always a pleasure to be introduced to more contemporary illustrators (my achilles heel).
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His darker skeletons are nice & his Shakespearian art work is fitting to its subject matter
Thanks again for the coment and stars. And I have to agree - Hamlet is the standout project here.
At 1:15 you can see the inspiration for the "Skull and Roses" Grateful Dead album cover art by Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse.
Hello and thanks for the comment. But the actual original for that was by Edmund J. Sullivan. If you want to se his work it features in unsung heroes 49.
Oh how those 60s boys loved to steal...
@@petebeard Thanks. Austen changed it up a bit but the boys just used tracing paper.
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I found his illustrated Daphnis and Chloe Limited Edition book club at a used store
Thanks for the comment. I hope it's a treasured possession.
Old Austin went from 'good' to 'Great' to 'Wonderful' to 'Ho-hum 'without even realizing what happened! Should have stuck to 'Beardsley'! Also, and by the way, his wife must have been quiet the looker!
Hi again and I must confess I share your opinion of his decline. Other than the woodcuts for the Frogs I find the later stuff lacking in humanity, but I hope that personal view wasn't evident in my narration.
youtube is interrupting this video mid-sentence with ads! It's disrespectful to your wonderful work chronicling the history of illustration. Ads at the beginning or ends of episodes are fine, but interrupting willy-nilly is annoying.
You're right - it is annoying. Especially as they state they they won't do that. Sadly it's something over whivh I have no control. Even if I elect to demonitize the channel they can still put ads on and give me nothing.
@@petebeard I’m sorry you can’t do anything about it. Nonetheless, you have a great channel, worth enduring the interruptions. Thank you for all your time and effort put into it!
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At 1:16 It looks as though John Austen inspired Alton Kelley and Stanley “Mouse” Miller in their design of the Grateful Dead's 'Skull and Roses' logo.
Yes it does, but they actually " hijacked it from a drawing by Edmund J. Sullivan. It's easily found on google.
I'd seen most of the illustrations before, but didn't know the name or anything about him.
Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad to have provided some illumination.
You can definately see the influence of Beardsly.
Thanks for your comment.
One of the people in the Bookplate identification and collecting- exlibris FB group collects Hannu Paalasmaa. I don't see him on your backlist. Is he under consideration for the future?
Hello and I'm afraid not. There just isn't anything like enough information or visual material available to make a video.
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Another thumbs up - thanks.
@@petebeard 👍
Odd how his name was already similar to Jane Austen, and his last finished set of illustrations was for Persuasion, Jane Austen's last finished novel
Thanks for the comment. I must say I wondered whether he had engineered the situation to draw attention to his work. But I've never read so.
Austen’s Ophelia - huge eyes with only a faintly troubled expression. Doll-like face, perfect lips and breasts. She looks adorable. Far from the much earlier John Everett Millais painting of drowning Ophelia. But there’s a difference between illustration and the fine art of a British peer. It was only then, looking at Austen’s Ophilia, that I realized what makes illustrators such singular talents. They achieve artistic expression within the confines of a made to order trade. I know you know that, Pete. Better than anyone. I, however, can be a bit slow 😂
Thanks again for another favourable comment. As it happens in my lifetime I have spent many hours gazing in admiration at Millais' painting as it's in the Manchester art gallery, along with a large number of other great pre-Raphaelite works.
@@petebeard No doubt. I'm but a tourist in the world you've known, Pete. The career I recently retired from was video games where actual artists are few. Mostly on the concept side. They bravely tried to educate me over the years 😂 It's not a pure oversight. Rather it has everything to do with how computer graphics are rendered at present. But the concept artists are, thankfully, there and critically important.
can you do a video of Sidney h. Sime.
Already done (to an extent). He appears in unsung heroes of illustration 88. There just isn't enough information/visual material to make a solo video, unfortunately.
thanks
I like his fine line and the obsessive detail but his faces are weird
Thanks for the comment.
Oh how the world has changed Kent isn't very rural anymore it is in my opinion, its realy a big Suburban region to London, from my perspective as a Californian it is a bit comparable to the likes of Orange and Ventura counties of Larger Cosmopolitan Los Angeles County.
Ah yes, the inevitable and lamentable spread of the cities. Some of Kent is still pleasantly green but a lot less so than it used to be, for sure.
Literally my favourite illustrator, I love when he went art deco. Dorothy Richardson (married Alan Odle) wrpte a short book about him but it just goes off on one about art at the time rather than telling me all the stuff I wanted to know about him! Thank you for the video :)
Thanks a lot for your comment. His pal Harry Clarke faetures in unsung heroes 58, and both Odle and Spare are pencilled in for future instalments.
Looking forward to them! @@petebeard