A 16-foot cartoon titled An Allegory of Justice earned its creator a £200 premium and a mural commission for the Palace of Westminster in 1845. This early professional triumph marked the emergence of John Tenniel, a London-born artist whose graphic work would define the visual landscape of 19th-century British political satire and Victorian literature for decades.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1820, Tenniel entered the Royal Academy of Arts in 1842 after submitting an admission portfolio composed of copies of classical sculptures. He maintained an independent approach to his education, frequently drawing from the Townley Gallery, the British Museum, and the Regent's Park zoo. An accidental injury involving a fencing foil in 1840 caused the gradual loss of sight in his right eye, a development he kept secret from his father.
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In 1850, Mark Lemon invited Tenniel to join the satirical magazine Punch as a joint cartoonist. By 1864, Tenniel assumed the role of chief cartoonist, a position he held for over 50 years. His work provided a weekly commentary on British political life, including national themes of labour, war, and economic reform.
Literary Illustration
Tenniel achieved widespread recognition for his work on the first editions of Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1865 and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There in 1871. His black-and-white drawings of the Alice characters established a definitive aesthetic. These illustrations secured his reputation, resulting in his appointment as a Knight Bachelor in 1893, making him the first cartoonist to receive such an honor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1820, London
- Died: 1914, London
- Education: Royal Academy of Arts
- Primary medium: Black-and-white illustration
- Major honor: Knight Bachelor
- Burial place: Kensal Green Cemetery
- Notable work: Dropping the Pilot
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Questions readers ask
What was Tenniel's role at Punch magazine?
He served as a political cartoonist for over 50 years, becoming the chief cartoonist in 1864 after the death of John Leech.
Did Tenniel receive any formal artistic honors?
Yes, he was knighted as a Knight Bachelor in 1893 for his artistic achievements.
Achievements
- Knight Bachelor
- Notable work: Dropping the Pilot
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