In February and March, 1872, he was still drawing for the magazines and illustrating short stories.
In March, 1872, he exhibited hunting sketches in oil at the Royal Institution, Manchester.
On the 16th April he went to the Slade School to attend the Life Class under E. J. Poynter, R.A., until the 29th June.
As this was the turning point in Caldecott's career, it should be recorded that at this time, and ever afterwards, Mr. Armstrong, the present Art Director at the South Kensington Museum, was his best friend and counsellor.[2] He had also the advantage of the friendship of George du Maurier, M. Dalou, the sculptor, Charles Keene, Albert Moore, and others.
On the 8th June he records, "A. urged me to prepare caricatures of people well known," probably with the view of making drawings for periodicals.
Several drawings of Caldecott's were under consideration by the proprietors of Punch, and on the 22nd June, 1872, the first appeared.
In the same month he exhibited a frame of four small sepia drawings at the Black and White Exhibition, Egyptian Hall, London.
