Drawing from Life, from "Illustrated London News"
In a humble Scottish interior, a boy just arrived home from school, has thrown off his coat and sketches a sleeping cat on his slate. The image suggests that his early passion may one day drive a mature artist and echoes incidents from the early lives of famous artists—Vasari for example recorded that the Florentine painter Cimabue discovered Giotto as a shepherd boy sketching his flock on a rock, then took him on as an apprentice. Published in the "Illustrated London News" in 1870, this wood engraving was designed by Henderson who lived and worked in Scotland, became president of the Glasgow Arts Club and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy and Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. The engraver Hollidge first worked for London periodicals, then went to Paris in 1871 and engraved for "L'Univers Illustré."
Artwork Details
- Title: Drawing from Life, from "Illustrated London News"
- Series/Portfolio: Illustrated London News
- Engraver: William Hollidge (British, active 1869–95)
- Artist: After Joseph Henderson (British, Stanley, Perthshire, Scotland 1832–1908 Ballantrae, Ayrshire)
- Date: March 26, 1870
- Medium: Wood engraving
- Dimensions: Image: 8 3/4 × 13 1/4 in. (22.2 × 33.7 cm)
Sheet: 10 13/16 × 15 11/16 in. (27.4 × 39.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Donato Esposito, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.653.19
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.