Erasmus Augustus Worthington
Encyclopedia
Erasmus Augustus Worthington (21 December 1791 – 1 April 1880) was an author
and illustrator
during the Victorian era
, and a member of the circle of English
novelist
Charles Dickens
.
in 1791, the son of Claude Erasmus Worthington (1756–1839), an illustrator who was apprenticed alongside artist and caricaturist Isaac Cruikshank
. Erasmus Worthington was a lifelong friend of Isaac’s sons Isaac
and George Cruikshank
, and, while, he was later to work with Charles Dickens
through the latter's influence, professionally he was to remain in George Cruikshank’s artistic shadow all his life.
Worthington's first published illustrations were prints of English country house
s, and later he contributed to the Comic Almanack between 1835 and 1852 and Omnibus in 1842. He contributed comic tales, illustrated by himself, to Dickens's periodicals Household Words
, and later All the Year Round
from 1859 to 1873, originally under the editorship of Dickens himself, and, following his death in 1870, under that of his son Charles Dickens, Jr
. He also illustrated several of the works of Dickens in later 'cheap editions', including The Pickwick Papers
(1847), and David Copperfield
. Moving as he did in the 'Dickens Circle', he became a friend of artists John Leech and Hablot K. Browne
. Worthington contributed numerous cartoons to 'Punch' magazine
under Mark Lemon
's editorship.
He published his autobiography
, My Life in Art in 1875.
Worthington died at his home in London
in 1880, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
, near to his great friend George Cruikshank, who had died two years previously. He never married.
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Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, and a member of the circle of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
novelist
English novel
The English novel is an important part of English literature.-Early novels in English:A number of works of literature have each been claimed as the first novel in English. See the article First novel in English.-Romantic novel:...
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
.
Life
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1791, the son of Claude Erasmus Worthington (1756–1839), an illustrator who was apprenticed alongside artist and caricaturist Isaac Cruikshank
Isaac Cruikshank
Isaac Cruikshank , Scottish painter and caricaturist, was born in Edinburgh. His sons Isaac Robert Cruikshank and George Cruikshank also became artists, and the latter in particular achieved fame as an illustrator and caricaturist. Cruikshank is known for his social and political satire.His...
. Erasmus Worthington was a lifelong friend of Isaac’s sons Isaac
Isaac Robert Cruikshank
Isaac Robert Cruikshank, sometimes known as Robert Cruikshank was a caricaturist, illustrator, and portrait miniaturist, the less well-known brother of George Cruikshank, both sons of Isaac Cruikshank. Born in Middlesex, where he and his brother George attended school in Edgware...
and George Cruikshank
George Cruikshank
George Cruikshank was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached an international audience.-Early life:Cruikshank was born in London...
, and, while, he was later to work with Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
through the latter's influence, professionally he was to remain in George Cruikshank’s artistic shadow all his life.
Worthington's first published illustrations were prints of English country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
s, and later he contributed to the Comic Almanack between 1835 and 1852 and Omnibus in 1842. He contributed comic tales, illustrated by himself, to Dickens's periodicals Household Words
Household Words
Household Words was an English weekly magazine edited by Charles Dickens in the 1850s which took its name from the line from Shakespeare "Familiar in his mouth as household words" — Henry V.-History:...
, and later All the Year Round
All the Year Round
All the Year Round was a Victorian periodical, being a British weekly literary magazine founded and owned by Charles Dickens, published between 1859 and 1895 throughout the United Kingdom. Edited by Dickens, it was the direct successor to his previous publication Household Words, abandoned due to...
from 1859 to 1873, originally under the editorship of Dickens himself, and, following his death in 1870, under that of his son Charles Dickens, Jr
Charles Dickens, Jr
Charles Dickens, Jr, born Charles Culliford Boz Dickens , was the first child of the novelist Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine. A failed businessman, he became the editor of his father's magazine All the Year Round, and a successful writer of dictionaries...
. He also illustrated several of the works of Dickens in later 'cheap editions', including The Pickwick Papers
The Pickwick Papers
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club is the first novel by Charles Dickens. After the publication, the widow of the illustrator Robert Seymour claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband's; however, in his preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens strenuously denied any...
(1847), and David Copperfield
David Copperfield (novel)
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery , commonly referred to as David Copperfield, is the eighth novel by Charles Dickens, first published as a novel in 1850. Like most of his works, it originally appeared in serial...
. Moving as he did in the 'Dickens Circle', he became a friend of artists John Leech and Hablot K. Browne
Hablot Knight Browne
Hablot Knight Browne was an English artist, famous as Phiz, illustrator of books by Charles Dickens, Charles Lever and Harrison Ainsworth.-Biography:...
. Worthington contributed numerous cartoons to 'Punch' magazine
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
under Mark Lemon
Mark Lemon
Mark Lemon was founding editor of both Punch and The Field.-Biography:Lemon was born in London on the 30 November 1809. He was the son of Martin Lemon, a hop merchant, and Alice Collis. His parents married on 26 December 1808 at St Mary, Marylebone, London...
's editorship.
He published his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, My Life in Art in 1875.
Worthington died at his home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1880, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
, near to his great friend George Cruikshank, who had died two years previously. He never married.
External links
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