Attrib. Richard Doyle Punch Illustration: The Frenche Landynge

Richard Doyle (1824–1883)

Richard Doyle (1824–1883) was one of the most inventive illustrators of the Victorian era. His work frequently appeared in Punch magazine; he famously drew the cover of the first issue and designed the magazine's masthead, a design that was used for over a century. The series 'The Manners and Customs of Ye Englyshe' (1849) was instrumental in making him a household name. He also had an exceptional imagination for fantastical and grotesque subjects and was a prolific and successful illustrator of fairy tales.

Doyle was born in London to Irish cartoonist John Doyle (known as H.B.). He had no formal training other than with his father, but his drawing talent was evident from a young age. In 1843 at the age of nineteen he joined the staff of Punch. In the 1840s Doyle collaborated with John Leech, W.C. Stanfield and other artists to co-illustrate three Charles Dickens Christmas books. In 1846 his illustrations for The Fairy Ring (a new translation of Grimm's tales), first made his name as a fairy tale illustrator. Then, in 1849 his popular reputation was secured with his illustrations to 'Fairy Tales from All Nations'. He went on to illustrate a number of fantasy titles, including his masterpiece is 'In Fairyland, a series of Pictures from the Elf World', with a poem by William Allingham, 1870.