"Dignity and Impudence."
"Spaniels, King Charles's Breed." Sir E. Landseer, R.A.
Early in the year 1877 Caldecott made several drawings for an illustrated catalogue of the National Gallery. Amongst the best in the English section were the two sketches from Sir Edwin Landseer's pictures, reproduced here. The grave portrait of an old bloodhound in "Dignity and Impudence," and the animation and movement in the diminutive poodle by his side, are indicated in a few expressive lines. The bright eyes of the two little spaniels of King Charles's breed glitter under his hand in the original pen and ink sketch.
Portrait of a Lawyer by Moroni.
For the foreign section of the book on the National Gallery he made many sketches, notably one of the "Portrait of a Lawyer" by Moroni. Here the touch and method of line are different; quality was more considered, and an attempt made to give something of the effect of the picture.
But neither he, nor those with whom he worked in those days, had mastered the best methods of drawing for mechanical reproduction, as they are understood now; fascinating as it seemed to him, and to many other illustrators also, to learn that the time had come when, by mechanical—or more properly chemical—engraving, the touch of the pen could be printed on the page.