It covers some of Bewick’s most productive years, 1792-99, comprising more than 40 drawings among his various jottings and memoranda. The artist generally used loose scraps of paper for his incidental drawings and this is thought to be the only formal sketchbook he ever employed.
Throughout the pages are thumb-nail sketches of various subjects, preparatory work for his book History of British Birds (1797) and a series of farmyard animal studies. The latter, he relates in his Memoir, were produced at the behest of an ‘agricultural gentleman’ of County Durham which caused him a good deal of trouble. These drawing ultimately served as the basis for wood engravings in his General History of Quadrupeds (1800).
Bewick is celebrated for the quality and skill of his wood engravings. In addition to the volumes mentioned above, he produced popular illustrations for other works such as Oliver Goldsmith’s poem The Deserted Village (1770) and Aesop’s Fables (1776).
Back in the spotlight
Now, for the first time, the book has been reproduced and is available for purchase. The limited edition of 200 copies will be launched at an event hosted by the Bewick Society at the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society on October 30.
The volume includes an explanatory text by Bewick scholar Nigel Tattersfield and was designed by fellow expert Iain Bain. It is published by Jarndyce Books and is available for £85 or, when ordered, £95. Copies will be signed by Tattersfield at the ABA Chelsea Bookfair on November 3-4.
