[23] Among the few drawings executed by "Phiz" for Punch, there is a representation of an orthodox pettifogging attorney perched upon a stool, whose portrait is that of the very Squeers. It constitutes one of a series of "Punch's Valentines," and was published in the second volume, 1842.
[24] The "Nickleby" plates were copied by J. Yeager for the first American edition of the story.
HABLÔT K. BROWNE ("Phiz")
II
"Master Humphrey's Clock"—A Quaint Advertisement—Woodcuts instead of Etchings—"Phiz's" Contributions—Instances of his Exaggerated Grotesqueness—Mr. Frederic Harrison's Comment—A Powerful Design—Illustrations in "The Old Curiosity Shop" Criticised—Ruskin's Attack upon the Designs in "Barnaby Rudge"—His Admiration of the Woodcut of "Barnaby and Grip"—"Phiz's" Frontispieces—His Letter to Dickens—An Amusing Epistle from Dickens to his Publisher—A "Clock Dinner"—Original Drawing of Master Humphrey and the Deaf Gentleman—Frontispiece for the First Cheap Edition of "Barnaby Rudge"—Vignettes for the Library Edition—New Designs for "Master Humphrey's Clock"—Portraits of Dolly Varden, Little Nell, and Barbara—Sale of Water-Colour Drawings—"Martin Chuzzlewit"—The Illustrations Characterised—How they were Prepared—Slight Errors by "Phiz"—The Original Drawings—Minute Instructions from Dickens to the Artist—A Humorous Rejoinder—Sale of the "Chuzzlewit" Designs—Vignettes for the Library Edition—"Dombey and Son"—The Plates Etched in Duplicate—Introduction of the Oblong Form of Illustration—Method of Obtaining Chiaroscuro—Some Anomalies in the Etchings—Working under Difficulties—Dickens's Anxiety Respecting the Designs—Studies for Mr. Dombey—A Letter of Instructions—Hints to the Artist—Dickens Disappointed—The Etching of "Mrs. Pipchin and Paul"—"Doctor Blimber's Young Gentlemen"—A Remarkable Oversight—Explicit Directions from Dickens to "Phiz"—Original Drawings for "Dombey and Son"—Slight Variations from the Etchings—"Dombey" Sketches Presented to Dickens—A Portrait of Little Paul—Pictorial Wrapper—Extra Plates—Criticism by Dickens—Portraits of Alice and Florence Dombey—Frontispiece for the First Cheap Edition—Vignettes for the Library Edition.
Master Humphrey's Clock, 1840-41.Charles Dickens's next work, entitled "Master Humphrey's Clock," which comprises "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge," was first issued in weekly instalments, as well as the customary monthly parts, the new venture being thus announced: "Now wound up and going, preparatory to its striking on Saturday, the 28th March, Master Humphrey's Clock, Maker's name—'Boz.' The Figures and Hands by George Cattermole, Esq. and 'Phiz.'" A novel feature of this undertaking was the illustrations, which were not etched as hitherto, but engraved on wood and dropped into the text, the total number of designs being one hundred and ninety-four, including three frontispieces and twenty-four initials. Of these "Phiz" produced by far the greater proportion, he being responsible for no less than a hundred and fifty-three, including two frontispieces and all the initials; the subjects of many of the latter, by the way, have no connection with the letterpress. Some of the drawings are unsigned, while others have appended to them the artist's initials or monogram, occasionally reversed. At this time "Phiz" was almost as anonymous as "Boz," but when "Master Humphrey's Clock" ultimately appeared in volume form, his identity was fully established on the title-page as "Hablôt Browne." The result of a careful analysis of the illustrations discloses the fact that "Phiz" produced sixty-one for "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge" respectively, and seven for the miscellaneous papers relating to "The Clock," exclusive of the initials. The greater number of figure-pieces fell to his pencil, while the architectural subjects were entrusted to his coadjutor, George Cattermole.
Plate XXXIII
"PAUL AND MRS. PIPCHIN"br /> Facsimile of the Original Sketch for "Dombey and Son" by H. K. BROWNE ("Phiz")