Alice in Wonderland by Sir John Tenniel, 1865.
Working during the Victorian era, Tenniel spent 50 years as a political cartoonist forPunchmagazine.
He was even knighted for his artistic achievements in 1893.
“Alice in Wonderland” by Sir John Tenniel, 1865. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Read on to learn about the life and work of this prolific illustrator.
Who was Sir John Tenniel?
Self-portrait by Sir John Tenniel, 1889.
“Self-portrait” by Sir John Tenniel, 1889. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Tenniel briefly attended the British Royal Academy before he began exhibiting his artwork at the age of sixteen.
These exercises taught the young artist how to draw with detail and develop his distinct, cross-hatch style.
Tenniel, however, didnt entirely enjoy the process of observation drawing.
By Sir John Tenniel, 1865. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Instead, he was happiest when he could draw from memory and his imagination.
His first book illustration was for Samuel Carter Hall’sThe Book of British Balladsin 1842.
Tenniels Illustrations forAlices Adventures in Wonderland
By Sir John Tenniel, 1865.
By Sir John Tenniel, 1865. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Tenniel was introduced to Lewis Carroll in 1864.
But when Tenniel completed his drafts, the notoriously picky Carroll only liked onethe drawing of Humpty Dumpty.
Both Tenniel and Carroll were perfectionists, and the majority of their creative collaboration was spent disagreeing over details.
“The Caterpillar” by Sir John Tenniel, 1865. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
Despite their differences, Carroll appreciated Tenniels unique style and process.
It was Tenniels childlike imagination that helped visualize the books whimsical characters we know today.
The first printing ofAlices Adventures in Wonderlandwas completed in 1865.
Illustration of Humpty Dumpty from “Through the Looking Glass,” by John Tenniel, 1871. Photo:Wikimedia Commons(Public domain)
A new edition was released in December 1865 and became an instant best-seller.
Lewis Carroll is impossible, he said.
The Caterpillar by Sir John Tenniel, 1865.
In 1900, when he was 80 years old, Tenniel retired from his position atPunch.
