Paintings of Scenes and Characters in Dickens's Novels--Portraits of Dolly Varden and Kate Nickleby Painted for the Novelist by Mr. W. P. Frith, R.A.--A Humorous Advertisement--Sale of the Two Pictures--Mr. Frith's Recollections--Mr. James Hamilton Presents to Dickens his Sketch of "What are the Wild Waves Saying?"--The Artist Rewarded for his Generosity--Water-Colour Drawings by Charles Green--How they Originated--An Interesting Series.
The novels of Charles Dickens are an interminable storehouse of subjects for pictures, so it is not surprising that they have always exercised a fascination over painters. The following is a list merely of those pictures that have come under my notice,--a collection which, doubtless, could be much amplified by reference to the catalogues of the Royal Academy and other important Art galleries.
W. A. ATKINSON.--"Little Nell and the two Gravediggers" ("The Old Curiosity Shop"). Royal Academy, 1856.
FRED. BARNARD.--"Sidney Carton" ("A Tale of Two Cities"). Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1882.
"Horatio Sparkins" ("Sketches by Boz"). Institute of Painters in Water-Colours, 1885.
W. H. BARTLETT.--"'The sea, Floy, what is it always Saying?'" ("Dombey and Son").
EDGAR BUNDY, R.I.--"Barnaby Rudge at the Country Justice's." Institute of Painters in Oil-Colours, 1896.
R. W. BUSS.--"Peerybingle, Dot, and Tilly Slowboy" ("The Cricket on the Hearth").
"Joe Willet taking leave of Dolly Varden" ("Barnaby Rudge").
"Trotty Veck and his Dinner" ("The Chimes"). (_See p. 55._)
G. CATTERMOLE.--"Little Nell's Home" ("The Old Curiosity Shop"), 1842.
"Little Nell's Grave" (companion picture), 1842. (_See p. 134._)
HORACE H. CAUTY.--"Bebelle looking out for the Corporal" ("Somebody's Luggage"). Society of British Artists, 1880.
HERBERT DICKSEE. "The Grandfather at the Grave of Little Nell." Royal Academy, 1887.
W. MAW EGLEY.--"The Marchioness Playing Cribbage in Dick Swiveller's Sick-Room" ("The Old Curiosity Shop"). Royal Academy, 1898.
F. EDWIN ELWELL.--"Charles Dickens and Little Nell." A bronze group, purchased by the Fairmount Park Art Association for the Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, U.S.A. The figure of Little Nell was exhibited at the Art Club, Philadelphia, and awarded the Gold Medal, while the entire group obtained a prize at the Columbian Exhibition. When exhibited in England, this work of Art met with warm approval, and the sculptor offered it to the London County Council, but the emphatic wish of Dickens (as expressed in his Will) prohibited their acceptance of this interesting memorial.