Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form – Mid-19th-century graphite drawing
Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form – Mid-19th-century graphite drawing
Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form – Mid-19th-century graphite drawing
Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form – Mid-19th-century graphite drawing
Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form – Mid-19th-century graphite drawing

Walter Sneyd Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form

£72.00
£72.00
Agotado
View the full Collection: Sneyd, Walter (1809–1888)

An original mid-19th-century graphite drawing – Walter Sneyd, Hebe Caricature, Greek Goddess in Human Form.

A wonderful, humorous caricature by Rev Walter Sneyd (1809–1888), who was a bibliophile, antiquarian, minister and amateur caricaturist.

This is one of a small group of drawings by Sneyd that we have for sale that satirise grandiose human traits amongst the upper classes of the time. He humorously assigns his figures the lofty status of Greek gods and goddesses, at odds with their actual base character, thereby highlighting their pomposity or human foibles.

Walter Sneyd, part of an old Staffordshire parliamentary family of Keele Hall, was the nephew of Rev John Sneyd (1763–1835), who was an amateur artist and close friend of the great 18th-century caricaturist James Gillray (1756–1815). John Sneyd was a significant collector of Gillray and collaborated with him on some of his prints. It appears that Walter Sneyd was subject to this influence.

In graphite with touches of pink pastel on cream card. Please note the small size of this artwork.

+ Read the Artist Research

Walter Sneyd (1809–1888)

Walter Sneyd (1809–1888) was a bibliophile, antiquarian, minister and amateur caricaturist. One of six children of Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Sneyd (1752–1829) of Keele Hall, an ancient family of local consequence in Staffordshire, he was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1831. Ordained in 1834, he took up a curacy at Begbroke near Woodstock, where he remained for the next thirty years. He was an ardent bibliophile and over his lifetime he formed an important collection of choice illuminated medieval manuscripts and early printed books.

Whilst at Oxford, Walter Sneyd wrote the humorous satirical work 'Portraits of the Spruggins Family / arranged by Richard Sucklethumkin Spruggins, Esq', published in 1829. The book, which includes numerous caricature drawings by Sneyd, is a parody of contemporary family histories and similar works of 19th-century antiquaries, genealogists and art historians. Its humour is very much in the vein of 18th-century British satire which characterised much literature in Britain in the long 18th-century.

Works by Walter Sneyd can be found in the British Museum, Wellcome Collection and Norfolk Museums, as well as Yale Centre for British Art, New Haven, and Indianapolis Museum of Art.

COA
+ Artwork Details

Dimensions: Height: 11.2cm (4.41") Width: 7.5cm (2.95")

Presented: Unframed.

Medium: Graphite

Age: Mid-19th-century

Signed: Signed lower right.

Inscribed: Inscribed upper centre.

Dated: --

Condition: In good condition for its age. The picture may have minor imperfections such as slight marks, toning, foxing, creasing or pinholes, commensurate with age. Please see photos for detail.There are historical adhesive marks and/or paper remnants to the verso, from previous mounting.

Stock number: KD-319