"D.V." Vanity Fair caricature of Lord Radstock, Evangelist. c1872

by Cecioni, Adriano

Lord Radstock, Statesmen. No. 122. Vanity Fair lithograph.  

"He spares neither time nor trouble to do the good he holds to be of the highest value in his generation, and may be seen almost any day holding forth with a vehemence that inspires respect, either in the provinces or in London, at a lay theatre surrounded by the appurtenances of phantasmagoria and other secular entertainments... In an age of trifling and infidelity, it is refreshing to meet earnestness and faith of a kind superior to society or even to ridicule: and Lord Radstock is a remarkable instance of a man who might have been some credit to his order as an Irish peer, but who has rather attempted to be an instructor of his kind as an English preacher.

During six months of 1872, Adriano Cecioni worked as an artist for Vanity Fair, a short weekly magazine of social commentary, published in London from 1868 to 1914. The magazine's popularity was guaranteed with the inclusion of an amusing chromolithograph caricature, 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 lithograph with a witty text, written under his pseudonym of 'Jehu Junior' (after the biblical prophet who effected the downfall of his enemies).It was the first time lithography had been used for caricatures, and they were printed by the eminent lithographer, Vincent Brooks.

Page size 355 x 230 (14 x 9 inches).