Sports & Leisure · 19th century
€ 270
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good original condition with light overall age toning consistent with 19th-century paper. No significant losses or repairs observed.
Sir William Harcourt – Vanity Fair Statesmen No. 50, Signed ATN, 1870
This original chromolithograph caricature was published in Vanity Fair on June 4, 1870, as part of the Statesmen series. Numbered Statesmen No. 50, the print bears the caption, “He was considered an able man till he assumed his own name.” The sitter is Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt (1827–1904), British lawyer and Liberal statesman.
Harcourt was a leading figure in Victorian politics and later served as Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer under Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. Known for his formidable intellect and forceful debating style, he was also an influential writer and commentator in the British press.
The caricature is signed “ATN” in the image, identifying the artist as Alfred Thompson. The drawing style is restrained and observational, relying on posture, gesture, and expression rather than exaggerated distortion. Harcourt is depicted holding his hat, standing with composed confidence, projecting authority and self-awareness.
The caption refers to Harcourt’s decision in 1868 to append the surname “Vernon” to his name, a choice that attracted contemporary comment and mild satire. Vanity Fair’s treatment reflects its role as both social observer and chronicler of political personalities at the height of Victorian public life.
Early Statesmen series caricatures from 1870 are particularly sought after, representing the formative period of Vanity Fair’s visual language. Today they are appreciated as both historical documents and highly decorative works of Victorian political art.
Condition:
Good original condition with light overall age toning consistent with 19th-century paper. No significant losses or repairs observed.
Framing tips:
An ivory or warm cream mat board complements the soft background tones. A dark walnut, ebonized, or black-stained wooden frame provides a dignified, period-appropriate presentation.
Dimensions:
13 1/2 x 8 3/8 inches (342 x 214 mm), overall
Technique: Chromolithograph
Maker: Alfred Thompson (ATN), London, 1870
