William Heath Robinson’s Life of Line
08 Mar - 03 Jun 2016
William Heath Robinson,
Professor Ptthmllnsprts, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London 1915, 1915.
Offset lithograph. 13.20 x 10.50 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Professor Ptthmllnsprts, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London 1915, 1915.
Offset lithograph. 13.20 x 10.50 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Heath Robinson,
The first thing which Tom saw was the black cedars, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London, 1912.
Photolithograph. 15 x 10 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
The first thing which Tom saw was the black cedars, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London, 1912.
Photolithograph. 15 x 10 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Heath Robinson,
There are land-babies then why not water-babies?, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London, 1915.
Offset lithograph. 14.40 x 11.10 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
There are land-babies then why not water-babies?, illustration for The water-babies by Charles Kingsley, London, 1915.
Offset lithograph. 14.40 x 11.10 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Heath Robinson,
Titania, illustration to Shakespeare’s Comedy of a Midsummer night’s dream, London, 1914.
Photolithograph. 21.40 x 15.20 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Titania, illustration to Shakespeare’s Comedy of a Midsummer night’s dream, London, 1914.
Photolithograph. 21.40 x 15.20 cm. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Installation view of Heath Robinson in the RA Library and Print Room
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Installation view of Heath Robinson in the RA Library and Print Room
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Installation view of Heath Robinson in the RA Library and Print Room
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Installation view of Heath Robinson in the RA Library and Print Room
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
Photo: Liz Dewar, Royal Academy of Arts
WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON’S LIFE OF LINE
8 March — 3 June 2016
William Heath Robinson was an illustrator of enormous range and charm. The RA Library Print Room presents his evocative book illustrations that reveal his mastery of black and white line.
The artist attended the Royal Academy Schools from 1892 until 1897 and originally aspired to be a serious landscape painter. Family connections with Fleet Street, however, soon led to commissions as an illustrator and his particular blend of stylish draughtsmanship and inventive imagination proved well suited to this genre.
Absurdity and nonsense are never far away in Robinson’s work as imaginary, impish characters appear alongside beautifully balanced designs. Robinson was haunted by whimsical characters who lead him into all sorts of adventures. One in particular, Uncle Lubin (1902), first brought his distinctive humour to the public’s notice.
In this display, a selection of his early graphic works for children’s classic literature including The Water Babies (1915) and Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1913), can be seen alongside familiar book illustrations and cartoons from his later career showing examples of his famous contraptions. Printed ephemera and First Editions from the RA Collection complement the drawings which are on loan from the Heath Robinson Museum, soon to open in Harrow, North London.
8 March — 3 June 2016
William Heath Robinson was an illustrator of enormous range and charm. The RA Library Print Room presents his evocative book illustrations that reveal his mastery of black and white line.
The artist attended the Royal Academy Schools from 1892 until 1897 and originally aspired to be a serious landscape painter. Family connections with Fleet Street, however, soon led to commissions as an illustrator and his particular blend of stylish draughtsmanship and inventive imagination proved well suited to this genre.
Absurdity and nonsense are never far away in Robinson’s work as imaginary, impish characters appear alongside beautifully balanced designs. Robinson was haunted by whimsical characters who lead him into all sorts of adventures. One in particular, Uncle Lubin (1902), first brought his distinctive humour to the public’s notice.
In this display, a selection of his early graphic works for children’s classic literature including The Water Babies (1915) and Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1913), can be seen alongside familiar book illustrations and cartoons from his later career showing examples of his famous contraptions. Printed ephemera and First Editions from the RA Collection complement the drawings which are on loan from the Heath Robinson Museum, soon to open in Harrow, North London.