Items Similar to Early 20th Century British illustration of a hornbill bird by Edward Detmold
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
Edward Julius DetmoldEarly 20th Century British illustration of a hornbill bird by Edward Detmold
About the Item
Edward Julius Detmold (British, 1883 – 1957)
Hornbill
Pen and ink on paper
Signed with initials’ ED’ (lower right)
16.3 x 15.8 cm.
Edward Julius Detmold (21 November 1883 Putney, Wandsworth, Surrey - 1 July 1957 Montgomery) and his twin brother Charles Maurice Detmold (1883-1908) were prolific Victorian book illustrators.
Their parents were Edward Detmold and Mary Agnes Luck. Their father, an electrical engineer was chronically ill, and they lived with their uncle and guardian, Dr Edward Barton Shuldham, who saw to their tuition and was a noted collector of porcelain and Japanese woodprints of plants and animals. Dr Shuldham occupied a house in Upper Richmond Road, Putney, where the twins had been born. He ensured their interest in natural history and art, and created a nurturing environment for their precocious talents. They also spent time with another uncle, the painter Henry E. Detmold, who encouraged them in their art. Most of their prodigious energy was expended on depicting animal subjects and their work showed great influence from traditional Japanese art, Albrecht Dürer and later the Art Nouveau movement. They were exhibiting watercolours at the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours at the age of 13. Edward Burne-Jones praised their work and warned against the dangers of uniformity inherent in art schools.
The twins subsequently mastered the techniques of watercolour etching and of colour printing with copper plates, buying a printing press and producing their own proofs at home.
In 1898 they compiled a portfolio of colour etchings of animals and flowering plants done in the Japanese style. These were much sought after and were rapidly sold out. They collaborated on the etchings and illustrations for their first book Pictures From Birdland published in 1899. This book resulted from a number of drawings being shown in the autumn of 1897, to the publisher J. M. Dent, who was so impressed that the two brothers were asked to provide coloured illustrations for a book of his. The first title mooted was Alphabet of Birds, eventually becoming Pictures from Birdland. "Particularly noticeable are the early influences in the paintings, Edward's design for an osprey, with its unusual water effects, testifying to a Japanese contribution. Already apparent is that style in which a searching study of natural forms, especially bird plumage, is subordinated to decorative arrangement" - David Larkin (The Fantastic Creatures of Edward Julius Detmold) This was followed in 1900, by an exhibition at the Fine Art Society's Gallery in London.
Their next joint project was to produce a set of 16 watercolours for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book published in 1903, by Macmillan. The success of their painting careers seemed assured, but Maurice ended his life by inhaling chloroform in April 1908, shortly before they were due to leave for a holiday in Sussex with Dr Shuldham, who had arranged that Maurice put down the household cats using the anaesthetic. Although stunned by the death of Maurice, Edward threw himself into his work.
The recognition accorded the twins' illustrations of Kipling's classic tale was extraordinary. Consequently, in 1909 Edward illustrated The Fables of Aesop, producing 23 colour plates and a host of pen & ink drawings. This proved so popular that in 2006 The Folio Society of London published a facsimile of the original Hodder & Stoughton edition.
In 1911, Detmold worked on illustrations for Maurice Maeterlinck's The Life of the Bee, Camille Lemonnier's Birds and Beasts and Florence Dugdale's Book of Baby Beasts. In the following year he worked on Maeterlinck's Hours of Gladness, in 1913, on Florence Dugdale's Book of Baby Birds and in 1919, on W. H. Hudson's Birds in Town and Village In 1919, he also produced a portfolio of Twenty Four Nature Pictures and, in 1921, on Our Little Neighbours and Jean-Henri Fabre's Book of Insects. Edward took up etching again in 1922 after Campbell Dodgson praised the Detmolds' work in The Print Collector's Quarterly.
1923 saw the appearance of Rainbow Houses. In 1924, Hodder & Stoughton published The Arabian Nights - Tales from the Thousand and One Nights, a book that had been planned from before Maurice's death. Again, an enduring interest in the book and particularly its illustrations, led to a 2003 facsimile edition from The Folio Society. Edward Detmold was painstaking in his work, missing deadlines so that a complete set of colour plates for Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales were never used by Hodder and remained unpublished.[9] Detmold's meticulously finished images compare favourably with work by any of the Pre-Raphaelites.
Edward Julius became one of the most talented of illustrators, depicting animals and plants with an extraordinary understanding, and making use of fantasy settings of architecture and landscape. He lived in London, sharing a house with his mother, artist Sidney Laurence Biddle and musician Harold Hulls, until the outbreak of the Second World War, when the household moved first to Sussex and then to Montgomeryshire, and in his final years he retired completely from public life. He suffered a period of depression, brought on by failing eyesight, that resulted in his committing suicide, aged 73, by his shooting himself in the chest in July 1957.
- Creator:Edward Julius Detmold (1883 - 1957, British)
- Dimensions:Height: 6.42 in (16.3 cm)Width: 6.23 in (15.8 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Minor spots of dirt, recently remounted in thick white card, behind glass. In a simple black wood frame.
- Gallery Location:Petworth, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU540310094392
About the Seller
4.9
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 2010
1stDibs seller since 2017
228 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Petworth, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 10 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Mid Century, modern British artist Sven Berlin, a strutting cockerelLocated in Petworth, West SussexSven Berlin (British, 1911 - 1999) A strutting cockerell Pen and ink 8 x 4.5/8 in. (20 x 12 cm.) (4) Sven Berlin, born in Sydenham, London on 14th Septemb...Category
20th Century Modern Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
- Cornish, St. Ives artist Sven Berlin drawing 'White bird', pen and ink on paperLocated in Petworth, West SussexSven Berlin (British, 1911 - 1999) White bird Pen and ink Signed with monogram, inscribed and dated `WHITE BIRD SclPT MY 87 SB’ (lower middle) 12.3/4 x 7.3/4 in. (32.3 x 19.7 cm.) S...Category
20th Century Modern Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
- An original British 20th Century drawing by British illustrator Heath RobinsonBy William Heath RobinsonLocated in Petworth, West SussexWilliam Heath Robinson (British, 1872-1944) 'The Friendly Dog' Signed 'W. Heath Robinson.' (lower right) Pen and ink on paper 11 X 8.1/2in. (28 X 21.7cm.) (excluding frame) 46 x 38cm...Category
Early 20th Century Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
- Modern British, 20th Century St. Ives artist, Sven Berlin, 'Equus' drawingLocated in Petworth, West SussexSven Berlin (British, 1911 - 1999) Equus Pen and ink 7.7/8 x 12.3/4 in. (19.7 x 32.4 cm.) Sven Berlin, born in Sydenham, London on 14th September 1911, was an English painter, draug...Category
20th Century Romantic Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Pen, Paper
- British illustration by EH Shephard, illustrator for Winnie the PoohLocated in Petworth, West SussexErnest Howard Shephard (British, 1879 – 1976) The land of the lost toys – ‘Oh that’s you is it’ Inscribed with title (lower edge), and further inscribed ...Category
20th Century English School Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Paper, Pen
- Sven Berlin, Cornish St. Ives artist, 20th Century 'Pegasus' drawingLocated in Petworth, West SussexSven Berlin (British, 1911 - 1999) Pegasus Pen and ink on paper laid down on card 11 x 7.7/8 in. (28 x 20 cm.) (16) Sven Berlin, born in Sydenham, London ...Category
20th Century Modern Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Pen
You May Also Like
- The Flight into EgyptLocated in New York, NYInscribed: 3. una Madonna che va in Egitto, verso, and Madonna che va in Egitto, recto Provenance: Private Collection, UK, since 1999 This expressive and boldly executed drawing is the work of Luca...Category
16th Century Old Masters Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Paper, Chalk, Pen
- The RushburyBy Sir William OrpenLocated in Belgravia, London, LondonPen and black ink on paper Paper size: 6 x 5.75 inches Signed upper middleCategory
20th Century Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
- Vintage Israeli Bezalel School Drawing Family Playing, Dogs Puppies Kibbutz LifeBy Moshe AvniLocated in Surfside, FLMoshe Avni was born in 1937, in Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the Upper Galilee in Israel. Presently, he lives and paints in Jerusalem. During the years 1956-1957, he studied Painting and Graphic Arts in the Bezalel Art School in Jerusalem, supported by a Betzalel School Scholarship. He studied with and was guided by the painter Leo Roth, z”l (1914-2002), from Kibbutz Afikim. Moshe Avni has participated in Workshops and Courses in the framework of the Kibbutz Movement and the Israeli Artists’ Organization. He has received scholarships from both the Sharett Fund and from the Norman Fund. In 1979, Moshe Avni was accepted to the Israeli Artists’ Organization. Exhibitions 2011 In the Jerusalem House of Quality – 16-22 December 2011 2009 In the Neighborhood Center of Beit haKerem, Jerusalem 2003 In Moshav Batzra, Israel 1984 In the Artists’ Quarter, Rishon leZion, Israel 1979 In the House of Culture for Young People, Kfar Saba, Israel 1977 In the “New Gallery”, Tel Aviv, Israel 1973 In the “New Gallery”, Tel Aviv, Israel 1970 In “The House of Uri and Rami Nechushtan” in Ashdot Yaacov, Israel Horses & People, New Gallery, Tel Aviv 1965 Journalists House - Sokolov House, Tel Aviv, Israel Exhibitions of Young Artists in “House of Helena Rubenstein”, Tel Aviv, Israel Private Exhibitions in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and more. Group Exhibitions Kiryat Shmona 1957 Artists: Noemi Schindler...Category
1960s Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPen, Paper, Ink
- Garth Bayley, Round the Bend, Horse Racing Art, Affordable Art, Contemporary ArtBy Garth BayleyLocated in Deddington, GBGarth Bayley Round the Bend Original Figurative Pen and ink on watercolour paper Image size: H:24 cm x W:32 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:24 cm x W:32 cm x D:0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Garth Bayley Round the Bend Original pen and ink painting on watercolour paper Pen and ink on paper Image size: H24 cm x W32 cm x D 0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece may look. Round the Bend is an original painting by Garth Bayley. Pen and ink horse racing painting. The barrier becomes the focus to keep the horses on track. Horse racing art...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPen, Paper, Ink
- Garth Bayley, Heart of the Race, Horse Racing Art, Contemporary Art, Art OnlineBy Garth BayleyLocated in Deddington, GBGarth Bayley Heart of the Race Original Figurative Pen and ink on watercolour paper Image size: H:24 cm x W:32 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:24 cm x W:32 cm x D:0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look Garth Bayley Heart of the Race Original pen and ink painting on watercolour paper Pen and ink on paper Image size: H24 cm x W32 cm x D 0.1cm Sold Unframed Please note that in situ images are purely an indication of how a piece may look. Heart of the Race is an original painting by Garth Bayley. Pen and ink horse racing painting. When you stuck in the middle you have to jostle for space. Horse racing art...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
- Garth Bayley, Thunder, Contemporary Art, Horse Racing Art, Affordable ArtBy Garth BayleyLocated in Deddington, GBGarth Bayley Thunder Original Art Pen and ink on paper Image size: H:24 cm x W:32 cm Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:24 cm x W:32 cm x D:0.1cm Sold Unf...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Ink, Pen
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Illustrations Set
Illustration Vintage School
Original Book Illustration
Architecture Illustration
Architectural Illustration
Early 20th Century British Paintings
Early 20th Century British Artists
Vintage House Illustration
Glads A
Artist Proof Drawing
Bird Print Drawing
Bird By Water
Bird Illustrations
Birds Illustration
Architecture Drawing Set
Early Bird Vintage
20th Century Japanese Painters
Sets Of Watercolor Prints