About this artwork
Crawhall’s father was an accomplished illustrator who collaborated with Charles Keene to provide comical illustrations for the satirical magazine Punch. He encouraged his son to develop his powers of observation and skills in draughtsmanship. Crawhall was by nature rather quiet and was nicknamed by his friends, The Great Silence. Although reserved, he was always able of see the humour in everything and, like Guthrie, was constantly making little doodles which reflected his quick wit. This design for a New Year greetings card was probably sent to his fellow artist E.A. Walton. It is typical of the lively sketches drawn onto scraps of paper that Crawhall made for the amusement of his friends or relatives. It shows a bird made from an artist’s palette and a cat formed from a tube of paint.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Joseph Crawhall (1861 - 1913) Scottish
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title:Greetings Card
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date created:1885
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materials:Pen on paper
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measurements:9.10 x 11.20 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Dr Camilla M Uytman Gift 1981
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accession number:D 5102.41 B
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gallery:
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subject:
Joseph Crawhall
Joseph Crawhall
Crawhall's sensitive watercolours of animals and birds conveyed their individual character and nobility. His avoidance of the cloying sentimentality favoured by many Victorian painters reflected his deep respect for creatures whose undemanding company he enjoyed. Crawhall, who was from...