Monday, August 12, 2019

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 1875

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 10

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 01

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 08

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 07

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 06

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 05

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 04

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 03

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 02

Reverend George Liddell Johnston - The Alphabet Illustrated, 09

"Reverend Johnston seems to have been somewhat preoccupied with devils and demons, at least in his artistic life. This theme is articulated at the outset, in his limerick for the letter A:

A was a sage Alchemist
Whose brains had a bit of a twist
In his chemical revels
He conjured up devils
Creating a sulphurous mist.

Accordingly, devils of one kind or another serve as characters in many illustrations throughout the series. These include “The Blue” (a blue she-devil), “The Danseuse” (a dancing green she-devil wearing a dress featuring a series of dancing red devils embroidered into the border), a grog-guzzling devil, an ignus fatuus demon leading people astray, a devilish couple singing a duet by “X. Satani,” and so on."

quote and image source

No comments: