Penelope

Penelope

William S. Gilbert

Engraving

Fun

“Here is ‘Penelope,’ by R. S Stanhope. Our Art Critic does not love Penelope, neither is Penelope loved by him, for she is not pretty or amiable, and she is very angular and medieval in her attitude. The standing figure has that beautiful copper-wire hair, without which no modern picture can be said to be complete.”

The cartoon in the same style in the first review of the 1864 Royal Academy is signed with the initials “W.S.G.” at the lower left. This is the Gilbert of Gilbert & Sullivan fame who I assume also wrote the savage critical commentaries. — George P. Landow

Courtesy of the Suzy Covey Comic Book Collection in the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida.

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