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 to the margins, image area clean and colors fresh. No tears or repairs. Sheet remains in very good condition.
Mr Peggotty from David Copperfield – Kyd Character Print after Dickens, ca. 1889
This original chromolithograph features Mr Peggotty, the kind-hearted Yarmouth fisherman from Charles Dickens’s novel 'David Copperfield', first published in 1849–50. Dressed in his familiar working-class clothes—wide trousers, heavy blue coat, and neckerchief—Mr Peggotty is shown here in a powerful pose, one hand holding his hat, the other raised as if making a solemn vow. His weathered face and rugged stance reflect both his seafaring background and his steadfast moral character.
This print is the work of Joseph Clayton Clarke, better known by his pseudonym “Kyd,” an English illustrator (1856–1937) famed for his distinctive and often humorous depictions of Dickensian figures. It was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons as part of the popular late 19th-century series “The Characters of Charles Dickens,” which featured high-quality chromolithographs based on Kyd’s original watercolor drawings.
Printed at the Fine Art Works in London, the series was distributed through Tuck’s branches in London, Paris, and New York. Each print captures not only the costume and setting of the character but also the spirit and personality that Dickens so vividly conveyed in his novels. Mr Peggotty is one of Dickens’s most compassionate and enduring characters, and this portrait captures his earnestness and emotional strength.
These prints were sold individually or in complete sets, and remain highly sought after by collectors of Dickens, Victorian illustration, and character art.
Condition report:
Chromolithograph on cream paper. Minor foxing to the margins, image area clean and colors fresh. No tears or repairs. Sheet remains in very good condition.
Framing tips:
This piece would look excellent in a dark wood or weathered frame with a soft ivory mat. Pairs well with other prints from the same Dickens series for a thematic wall display.
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
