"Not an MP." Alexander Kinglake, Vanity Fair caricature c1872.

Men of the Day No.41, Vanity Fair caricature. Chromolithograph for Vanity Fair of a caricature of Mr. Alexander William Kinglake, by Tuscan painter and sculptor Adriano Cecioni (1836-1886) who was an artist for Vanity Fair for six months during 1872.

Kinglake established his reputation as a fine writer, following the publication of "Eothen" around 25 years prior to this caricature - which perhaps suggests he is resting on his laurels? The accompanying text says that "All readers of English felt that they had before them not only a new and most powerful master of the tongue, but also a man of strong and ready sympathies, keenly alive to and singularly retentive of impressions." His later volumes on the Invasion of Crimea and the Battle of the Alma were "vividly rendered". "... he has abundantly shown that below the warmth which especially marks him, he has all the qualities of the calm historian, treating the events of the world by the light of a preliminary estimate of the men who live in it."

Vanity Fair was a weekly magazine of social comment, published in London from 1868 to 1914. With eight to ten pages each issue, Vanity Fair magazine's popularity was guaranteed with the inclusion of an amusing caricature, lithographed from a watercolour, parodying any newsworthy personage. Over the years of publication it became a mark of honour to be the 'victim' of one of the magazine's caricaturists. The publisher accompanied each with a witty text, written under his nickname of 'Jehu Junior' (after the biblical prophet who effected the downfall of his enemies). He considered the caricatures made grim faces more grim, grotesque figures more grotesque, and dull people duller by the genius of ‘Ape’" (Carlo Pellegrini, 1839-1889). It was the first time lithography had been used for caricatures. They were printed by the eminent lithographer, Vincent Brooks (1814-1885).

Page size 355 x 230 (14 x 9 inches). In good condition.