Randolph Caldecott (1846 - 1886) - Randolph Caldecott, an English artist and illustrator, was born in Chester on 22 March 1846. He exercised his art chiefly in book illustrations. His abilities as an artist were recognised by the Royal Academy. Caldecott greatly influenced illustration of children's books during the nineteenth century. Two books illustrated by him, priced at a shilling each, were published every Christmas for eight years.
Caldecott also illustrated novels and accounts of foreign travel, made humorous drawings depicting hunting and fashionable life, drew cartoons and he made sketches of the Houses of Parliament inside and out, and exhibited sculptures and paintings in oil and watercolour in the Royal Academy and galleries.
Caldecott's health was generally poor and he suffered much from gastritis and a heart condition going back to an illness in his childhood. It was his health among other things which prompted his many winter trips to the Mediterranean and other warm climates. It was on such a tour in the USA in 1886 that he was taken ill again and died on 12 February 1886 in Florida. A headstone marks his grave in the cemetery at St Augustine, Florida.
Soon after his death, his many friends contributed to a memorial, which was designed by Sir Alfred Gilbert. It was placed in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London. There is also a memorial to him in Chester Cathedral.
This page presents a selection of mainly repro cards published by Frederick Warne & Co Ltd and Hunkydory Designs in 1974, showing Randolph Caldecott illustrations. The original cards, of which there are four in the album (PC_Caldecott_01d, PC_Caldecott_06a, PC_Caldecott_11c and PC_Caldecott_12a), were published c 1916.
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