The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2) — John Shaqi
The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2)Jerrold, Blanchard
History
The Life of George Cruikshank in Two Epochs, Vol. 2. (of 2)
Jerrold, Blanchard
Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878
No great stretch of the imagination is needed to conjure up an
interesting picture in the corner of the graveyard of St. James’s,
Piccadilly, in that momentous June when the forces of France and the
Allies were gathering hastily for the field of Waterloo. It was on the
first of the month. From the famous print-shop of Mistress Humphrey in
St. James’s Street, before which hosts of laughing men and women had
been wont to linger, a coffin was home, containing the mortal part of
the “Juvenal of caricature” as he had been called--of the hapless man of
genius, who had lain, with short flashes of sanity, full six years with
mind unstrung--a dreadful shadow over the mirthful shop. Behind followed
the good Mistress Humphrey and her faithful Betty, her maid; probably
stout Mortimer the picture dealer, possibly Mr. Gifford. Let us think
of Landseer and James Stanley and others to whom poor Gillray had been
known in his bright days, standing by the open grave near the Rectory
House, within full sound of the hum of Piccadilly. And at hand we shall
note a slim young man, with eager, piercing eyes, a hook nose, with fall
whiskers trimmed to the corners of his mouth; a young man with incessant
spasmodic action. His eyes start and his mouth works, as, the service
ended, he gazes into the yawning grave. To his neighbour he says, under
his breath, “A great man, sir--a very great man.”
With a bow to weeping Mistress Humphrey he retires. The good soul, who
has now done her last duty to the poor madman with whom she has borne
patiently and gratefully so long, is pleased to note that Mr. Cruikshank
had not forgotten to pay his last tribute of respect and gratitude to
his master. Mrs. Humphrey, no doubt, regarded the young man whom she had
employed to finish Gillray’s work when he first fell ill, and who had
since managed to keep the crowds laughing before her windows, as a
very poor substitute for the dead genius. And in those days Cruikshank
himself was still very modest, and was proud to be accounted strong
enough to hold the pencil and the needle of the stricken Gillray.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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