Art, Myth & Old Masters · 19th century
€ 160
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Chromolithograph on cream paper. Minor foxing in the margins, the image area clean and colors vivid. No tears or restoration. The sheet is in very good overall condition.
Dick Swiveller from Old Curiosity Shop – Kyd Character Print after Dickens, ca. 1889
This original chromolithograph portrays Dick Swiveller, a witty and well-meaning dandy from Charles Dickens’s novel *The Old Curiosity Shop*, first published in 1840–41. Standing confidently with one hand in his pocket and a cane dangling from the other, Swiveller is shown mid-stride with a lit cigar and an exaggeratedly rakish expression. His plaid waistcoat, red neckerchief, and top hat add flair to his youthful and slightly absurd appearance, perfectly capturing Dickens’s mix of humor and humanity.
DICK SWIVELLER
" A select convivial circle called the 'Glorious Apollers,' of which I have the honour to be Perpetual Grand." (Old Curiosity Shop - Chap. xiii)
The illustration is the work of Joseph Clayton Clarke, better known as "Kyd," an English artist (1856–1937) celebrated for his vivid and often comic depictions of Dickensian characters. This image was part of the celebrated series “The Characters of Charles Dickens,” published by Raphael Tuck & Sons and printed at the Fine Art Works in London. The series features full-color lithographic prints after Kyd’s original watercolors and was sold internationally in the late 19th century.
Dick Swiveller, though comic and naive at first, grows into one of Dickens’s more redemptive figures. Kyd’s portrayal draws on that youthful bravado while suggesting the light-hearted charm that made the character so memorable. The artwork’s strong lines and subtle tonal shading exemplify the high quality of Victorian chromolithography.
These prints were issued both individually and as part of complete portfolios and remain highly collectible today. Each plate includes the character’s name and the title of the novel, printed discreetly in the margins.
Condition report:
Chromolithograph on cream paper. Minor foxing in the margins, the image area clean and colors vivid. No tears or restoration. The sheet is in very good overall condition.
Framing tips:
Looks excellent in a classic black or dark wood frame with a white or warm ivory mat. Can be paired with other prints from the same Dickens series for a literary-themed gallery wall.
Technique: Chromolithograph
Artist: Joseph Clayton Clarke ("Kyd")
Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons, London, Paris & New York
Date: Circa 1889
Sheet size: approximately 36.5 x 26.5 cm
Image size: approximately 27 x 18 cm
