Plate XXII
ROBERT W. BUSS
From the Painting by Himself.
Circa 1837.
ROBERT W. BUSS
Alteration in the Plan of Publishing "Pickwick"—The Difficulty Respecting a New Illustrator—Buss Elected to Succeed Seymour—Studies Art under G. Clint, A.R.A.—His Painting of "Christmas in the Olden Time"—His Ignorance of the Etcher's Art—Practises Drawing in Pen-and-ink—"The Pickwick Papers"—Buss's First Plate Approved by the Publishers—Failure of Subsequent Attempts—Expert Assistance Obtained—Plates Cancelled—Buss Dismissed—Substituted Designs by "Phiz"—"Pickwick" Drawings by Buss—His Unused Designs for "Pickwick"—His Illustrations for Marryat, Ainsworth, &c.—Accurate Draughtsmanship—"The Library of Fiction"—Buss's Illustrations for "A Little Talk about Spring and the Sweeps"—His Paintings, Humorous and Historical—Some Dickens Pictures—Drawings of Scenes in "Dombey and Son"—An Unfinished Portrait of Dickens—Drawings on Wood for Charles Knight—Exclusion of the Artist Buss's Pictures from the Royal Academy—Endeavours to Obtain Pupils—Lectures on Art—His Wife and Daughter Establish a School for Girls—A Professor of Drawing and a Teacher of Science—Praiseworthy Industry—Death of the Artist.
Charles Dickens's brother-in-law, the late Mr. Henry Burnett, was a frequent visitor at the home of the novelist during the "Pickwick" period, and years afterwards he vividly recalled the consternation, disappointment, and anxiety of the young writer on receipt of the melancholy news concerning the distressing fate of Robert Seymour, the first illustrator of "The Pickwick Papers." Dickens greatly admired the productions of that unfortunate artist, and, realising how successfully he had so far portrayed the characters in the work, apprehended there would be much difficulty in discovering a draughtsman who could interpret him with equal felicity. Indeed, there was quite a dearth of suitable talent, the only artist then living capable of etching his own designs being George Cruikshank. Unfortunately, there was not much time for consideration, as the third number of "Pickwick" had to be provided for without delay.
The crisis brought about by the unexpected death of Seymour compelled Chapman & Hall to promptly carry into effect a resolution they had formed of issuing future numbers of "The Pickwick Papers" on an improved plan, with a view to enhancing the attractiveness and popularity of the work. They determined that each succeeding number should consist of thirty-two pages of letterpress instead of twenty-four, and that there should be two illustrations in lieu of four—an arrangement which held good to the end. The difficulty respecting an illustrator to succeed Seymour had now to be grappled with, whereupon the publishers called to their assistance the eminent wood-engraver, John Jackson, who advised them to approach Robert William Buss, as being the only artist of his acquaintance likely to prove the most suitable for the purpose. Chapman & Hall acted upon this suggestion, and Buss, after much persuasion and at great personal inconvenience, agreed to temporarily relinquish very important engagements in order to assist them in their dilemma.
Plate XXIII
DESIGN FOR THE TITLE-PAGE OF "THE PICKWICK PAPERS"
Facsimile of an Unpublished Drawing by R. W. BUSS