My Autobiography and Reminiscences
Further Reminiscences

The most celebrated Victorian narrative painter exchanges palette for pen in this popular three-volume autobiography, first published in 1887–8.

William Powell Frith (Author)

9781108051835, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 June 2012

472 pages, 9 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.59 kg

The celebrated Victorian narrative painter William Powell Frith (1819–1909) was a born raconteur. His two-volume autobiography of 1887 ran to three editions in the same year. The third edition is reissued here, together with its supplementary volume of 1888. Frith was an ideal commentator on his age. He never lost his early interest in literary and historical subjects, and moved in the highest artistic and literary circles. Yet he also saw himself as a man of the people. His most famous works were his 'modern-life' panoramas, Ramsgate Sands (1854), Derby Day (1858) and The Railway Station (1862). Discussing such projects, he reflects on everything from costume to portraiture, art dealers to female artists, and even picture frames. In particular, Volume 3 records the breakdown of the talented Richard Dadd, Frith's admiration for Daniel Maclise, John Tenniel and George du Maurier, and reflections on the vagaries of fashions in art.

Introduction
1. Great names and the value of them
2. Prelude to correspondence
3. Early correspondence
4. Asylum experiences
5. Anecdotes - various
6. An over-true tale
7. Scraps
8. A Yorkshire blunder, and scraps continued
9. Richard Dadd
10. An old-fashioned patron
11. Another dinner at Ivy Cottage
12. Charles Dickens
13. Sir Edwin Landseer
14. George Augustus Sala
15. John Leech
16. Shirley Brooks
17. Admiration
18. On self-delusion and other matters
19. Fashion in art
20. A story of a snowy night
21. English art and French influence
22. Ignorance of art
23. Oratory
24. Supposititious pictures
25. A variety of letters from various people
26. Mrs Maxwell
27. Book illustrators
28. More people whom I have known
Index.

Subject Areas: The arts: general issues [AB]