The Journey’s End

Today I scanned the last dozen tipped in colour plate illustrations by Frank Reynolds from Hodder & Stoughton’s 1913 limited edition of Charles Dickens’s ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ Details about the artist feature in my post ‘Not Done With Pickwick’

As I did yesterday I have included the lines of text that each of the following paintings depicts with the gallery image that can be accessed by clicking on each one individually. With the titles below I have indicated the three exceptions that carry no such references.

‘THE WAYFARERS’

‘MRS JARLEY’

‘SALLY BRASS’ (No lines of text)

‘LITTLE NELL’

‘FLIGHT’ (No lines of text)

‘MR AND MRS QUILP’

‘NELL’S GARDEN’

‘THE MARCHIONESS’ (No lines of text)

‘CRIBBAGE’

‘AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY’

‘THE FIGUREHEAD’

‘NEAR THE JOURNEY’S END’ (No lines of text)

This evening we dined on lamb roasted slowly enough to provide crisp skin while retaining tender meat; equally crisp Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, and parsnips; carrots, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Malbec.

64 comments

  1. The detail in these illustrations cannot simply be glossed over. Thank you very much for sharing their intricate beauty with your readers, Derrick.

  2. I miss your photographs today, Derrick – but gosh these images are just amazing.
    So realistic and dynamic, indeed.
    The character and feelings just ooze from the page in a way which reminds me, as the observer, of being in a theatre!
    What immense talent Reynolds had. Thank you for sharing these treasures with us.

  3. Thank you for taking the time to scan these beautiful illustrations for us, Derrick. I particuarly enjoyed the use of color and how varied it was to depict the mood of each scene and the various characters.

    1. A sound observation of the style. I particularly liked the attention to the light and its sources. I really appreciate your recognition of the time taken. Thank you vey much.

  4. Each one of Mr. Frank Reynolds’ illustrations are masterpieces! He conveys so much through the actions, facial expressions, details (like the cricket players on the green), the feel/emotions of the scenes, the chosen colours, etc. 🙂 Thank you for sharing these with us!!! 🙂
    My favs are “Don’t leave us, Nell, though the sky is bright. Do not leave us!” and “Away with melancholy.”
    (((HUGS))) 🙂
    PS…Hmm…I need to buy me some Brussels sprouts!

  5. I’d not want to meet Sally Brass in a dark alley — or a schoolroom, or a shop, for that matter. “Flight” is my favorite. It suggests a Van Gogh painting. As for “Cribbage,” there are lots of memories there. My dad and I used to play regularly. I still have the board we used, but now I can’t find anyone to play, and can’t remember the rules myself.

    1. Thank you very much, Linda. A lovely cribbage memory; and good link with Van Gogh. Sally Brass is certainly awesome. I liked the way the artist gave both the Brasses red hair.

  6. Those are some of your best illustrations yet. “Flight” and “Near the Journey’s End” are wonderful, but “Sally Brass” is superb.

  7. This is the kind of artwork that I sink into. I can ‘Study” it for hours, just placing myself into the scene. They are marvelous. Thanks for sharing. I love them all, but perhaps my favorite is Sally Brass!! ;-0

  8. Fascinating illustrations. It’s a shame that more present day works of fiction aren’t accompanied by such images, which help to bring a story to life.

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