Portraits of Charles Dickens: Finding Aid mssDickenspo
Gayle M. Richardson
The Huntington Library
December 2023
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Portraits of Charles Dickens
Identifier/Call Number: mssDickenspo
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1836-1870
Abstract: A collection of drawings, etchings,
prints, and watercolors related to Charles Dickens, his life, and his characters.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Charles Dickens portraits, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from the William K. Bixby sale, August 1918.
Biographical / Historical
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was a British writer during the Victorian era, perhaps the most
celebrated writer of his time; he used his writing to entertain but to also expose the ills
of Victorian society. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and was forced by family
circumstances to leave school at the age of 12 for three years. After some additional
schooling, he began his writing career as a journalist; over the following decades, he was
also a journal editor, publisher, critic, and a writer of novels, short stories, and
articles. Dickens also gave many lectures and reading performances throughout England and
America. He used his writing to campaign for social reform for children and education among
other issues. In 1836, he married Catherine Thomson Hogarth; together they had 10 children.
On June 8, 1870, Dickens had a second stroke at his home; he never regained consciousness
and, the next day, he died at Gads Hill Place.
Scope and Contents
A collection of drawings, etchings, prints, and watercolors originally part of a bound
volume; the material is related to Charles Dickens, his life, and some of the characters
from his books, including "Nicholas Nickleby," "The Old Curiosity Shop," "Oliver Twist," and
"The Pickwick Papers." Also included are drawings of Dickens and his wife, Catherine
Dickens, and their visit to America in 1842. The material was created by various artists
including Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"), George Cattermole, George Cruikshank, Daniel
Maclise, Joseph Kenny Meadows, Pierre Morand, Frederick Sem, and Sir Leslie Ward
("Spy").
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff in approximately 1980; in December 2023, Gayle M.
Richardson created the finding aid. The material was originally housed in a bound volume and
the items were removed by Huntington Staff; some of the material still has remnants of old
glue and small tears at the corners.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: HM 39987 (1-25).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Authors, English -- 19th century
Caricatures
Drawings (visual works)
Etchings
Portraits
Prints (visual works)
Sketches
Watercolors (paintings)
Browne, Hablot Knight, 1815-1882
Cattermole, George, 1800-1868
Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878
Dickens, Catherine,
1815-1879
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 -- Nicholas Nickleby
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
-- The Old Curiosity Shop
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870
-- Oliver Twist
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 -- The Pickwick Papers
Maclise, Daniel, 1806-1870
Meadows, Joseph Kenny,
1790-1874
Morand, Pierre,
1832-1897
Sem, Frederick, approximately1835-1881
Ward, Leslie, Sir,
1851-1922
Box 1, Folder 1
Hablot Knight Browne "Charles Dickens:" printed etching HM 39987 (5)
1836
Box 1, Folder 2
Hablot Knight Browne "First engraved portrait of Charles Dickens:" early pencil
sketch
HM 39987 (4)
1836
Scope and Contents
On verso: later pencil and watercolor sketch of Dickens.
Box 1, Folder 3
Hablot Knight Browne "Original design for the etching in 'The Pickwick Papers'"
(not used)
HM 39987 (2)
approximately 1836
Scope and Contents
On verso: pencil sketch of a young woman.
Box 1, Folder 4
Hablot Knight Browne "The Goblin and the Sexton:" from "The Pickwick Papers:"
printed etching
HM 39987 (3)
approximately 1837
Box 1, Folder 5
George Cruikshank "Oliver Twist, Master of the Workhouse, and Noah Claypole
from 'Oliver Twist':" pencil sketches
HM 39987 (25)
approximately 1837
Box 1, Folder 6
George Cruikshank "Oliver asking for more" from "Oliver Twist:" printed
etching
HM 39987 (24)
1838
Scope and Contents
Window mounted.
Box 1, Folder 7
Joseph Kenny Meadows "Heads from Nicholas Nickleby by Miss La Creevy: portrait
of Ralph Nickleby:" watercolor and pen portrait
HM 39987 (13)
approximately 1838
Scope and Contents
Miss La Creevy portraits drawn by Meadows.
Box 1, Folder 8
Pierre Morand "Capt. Roberts on board Steamer British Queen:" pen and pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (17)
1840 October 15
Scope and Contents
Mounted on paper.
Box 1, Folder 9
Daniel Maclise "Charles Dickens:" pencil sketch HM 39987 (10)
1840
Box 1, Folder 10
Hablot Knight Browne "Charles Dickens' characters, including Little Nell:"
pencil portrait drawings
HM 39987 (12)
approximately 1840
Box 1, Folder 11
Hablot Knight Browne "The Grandfather" and "The Marchioness" from "The Old
Curiosity Shop:" oil and pastel drawing
HM 39987 (6)
approximately 1840
Box 1, Folder 12
George Cattermole "The Maypole Inn" from "Barnaby Rudge:" watercolor and pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (7)
approximately 1840
Scope and Contents
On verso: also with the title in pencil: "Master Humphery's Clock."
Box 1, Folder 13
Hablot Knight Browne "Studies of Dickens' characters, including The
Grandfather, Little Nell, and Pickwick:" pencil portrait sketches
HM 39987 (8)
approximately 1840
Box 1, Folder 14
Pierre Morand "Charles Dickens Steamer Britannia mid ocean:" pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (21)
1842 January 12
Box 1, Folder 15
Pierre Morand "Chas. Dickens at the Fremont House, Boston:" watercolor and
pastel drawing
HM 39987 (20)
1842 January 23
Scope and Contents
On verso: details about Dickens and the occasion; mounted on paper.
Box 1, Folder 16
Pierre Morand "Chas. Dickens at the Fremont House, Boston:" pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (22)
1842 January 23
Scope and Contents
Originally mounted on paper; on verso of paper, details about Dickens and the
drawing.
Box 1, Folder 17
Pierre Morand "Chas. Dickens at the Fremont House, Monday Morning, 24th
January:" watercolor and pastel drawing
HM 39987 (19)
1842 January 24
Scope and Contents
On verso: details about Dickens and the drawing; mounted on paper.
Box 1, Folder 18
Pierre Morand "Chs. Dickens as he usually walked on deck of the Britannia:"
watercolor and pencil drawing
HM 39987 (16)
1842 January
Scope and Contents
On verso: details about Dickens, the vessel, and the voyage; mounted on paper.
Box 1, Folder 19
Pierre Morand "Chas. Dickens in one of his nautical conversations with Capt.
Hewitt:" pen drawing
HM 39987 (18)
1842 January
Scope and Contents
On verso: details about Dickens, Capt. Hewitt, and the voyage; mounted on paper.
Box 1, Folder 20
Pierre Morand "Charles Dickens on board Steamer Britannia:" pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (14)
1842 January
Scope and Contents
On verso: details about Dickens and the drawing.
Box 1, Folder 21
Pierre Morand "Mrs. Dickens on board Steamer Britannia:" pencil
drawing
HM 39987 (15)
1842 January
Scope and Contents
Drawing is of Catherine (Hogarth) Dickens.
Box 1, Folder 22
Charles Martin "Original portrait of CD:" pencil drawing with details in color
pencil
HM 39987 (1)
1843 December 6
Scope and Contents
Also enclosed: printed bookplate for William K. Bixby.
Box 1, Folder 23
Frederick Sem "Sem's Pantheon -- All the Year Round Conducted by Charles
Dickens:" watercolor, pencil, charcoal caricature
HM 39987 (11)
approximately 1860
Box 1, Folder 24
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward "Charles Dickens:" watercolor and pen
drawing
HM 39987 (23)
approximately 1868
Scope and Contents
A caricature by "Spy," originally in the collection of John Lawrence Toole.
Box 1, Folder 25
E. P. "Charles Dickens portrait:" pastel oil on board HM 39987 (9)
1870
Scope and Contents
On verso: oil painting of a stag, unsigned; originally in the collection of John
Lawrence Toole.
