John Leighton: the frontispiece of his Tubular Transit for London (1902); British Library no. 8235.bb.87(4).
John Leighton, “a long-lived man of exceptional ability with wide-ranging interests” (King) was not only a prolific book illustrator but he also designed the covers of books for more than 60 publishers and “wrote and illustrated a number of works in the 1840s under the pseudonym of Luke Limner, almost certainly taking his pseudonym from St Luke, the patron saint of artists” (King).
Related Material
Illustrations
- London
- Title-page
- The Dayspring from on High
- The Pilgrims Coming to the Golden Gate
- Christ our example
- Evening Prayer: Trust in God
- The Christian's Trust
- Inward and Outward Distress
- Frontispiece and title-page for London Cries and Public Edifices
- Title-page, The Ancient Story of the Old Dame and Her Pig
- Title-page, London Out of Town
The Cries of London and Public Edifices
- The Tinker and the Tower of London
- The East India House and Rhubarb
- The Bank of England and Matches
- The Royal Exchange and Oranges, Sweet St. Michael Oranges
- The Mansion House and Buy a Cage . . .
- Old College of Physicians and Old chairs to Mend . . .
- Smithfield & Cat's Meat! — Dog's Meat!
- St. Johns Gate, Clerkenwell, and Dust Oh!
- Temple Bar & Pity the Poor Blind!
- Somerset House & Umbrellas to Mend!
- Covent Garden Theatre and the Costard-Monger
- Trafalgar Square — Images! Buy Images
- Charing Cross — Baked Potatoes, All Hot!
- White Hall — Bow Pots!
- Burlington House — Wild Duck, Rabbit, or Fowl!
- St. George's, Hanover Square — New Mackarel!
- St. James' Palace — Old Clothes!
- Westminster Abbey — Milk Below!
- Lambeth Palace — Water Cresses
- New Hall, Lincolns Inn — Knifes and Scissors to Grind!
- The Foundling Hospital — Sweep! — Soot Oh!
- The North-Western Railway — Muffins! — Crumpets!
- The Coliseum — Buy a Broom!
Bibliography
Cults, Jacob. Moral Emblems with Aphorisms, and Proverbs, of All Ages and Nations. Illustrations by John Leighton. 3rd ed. London: Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer, 1865.
Limner, Luke. The Ancient Story of the Old Dame and Her Pig. A Legend of Obstinancy Shewing How it Cost the Old Lady a World of Trouble, and the Pig His Tail. Illustrated by Luke Limner. London: D. Bogue, Fleet St, [1847]).
Limner, Luke. London Out of Town. Or the Adventures of the Browns at the Sea Side London: David Bogue, 86 Fleet Street, [1847].
Limner, Luke. Madre datura versus the Molorh of Fashion. A Social Essay, with Twenty Five Illustrations (London: Bradbury & Evans &: Co. II, Bouverie St., Whitefriars, 1870.
Limner, Luke. The Cries of London & Public Edifices from Sketches on the Spot. London: Grant & Griffith successors to Newberry and Harris. Corner of St Paul's Church Yard, [1847].
Limner, Luke. The Royal Picture Alphabet. London: Ward and Lock, 158 Fleet Street, [1856].
Limner, Luke. Suggestions in Design. Including all original compositions in all styles with descriptive notes for the use of artists and art-workmen: containing nearly six hundred hints for workers in metal, wood, ivory, glass, and leather; the potter, weaver, printer in colours, engraver, decorator, etc., etc. London: David Bogue, Fleet Street, 1853. 26pp., 47 plates.
Pantazzi, Sybille. "John Leighton, 1822-1012. A Versatile Victorian Designer: his designs for book covers'. The Connoisseur, 112 (Apr. 1963): Pp. 262-73
Last modified 19 September 2013