This exhibition presents a small sample of the extraordinary art produced in the rather short lifetime of Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886). Utilising images from the Sketchbook of R. Caldecott's (1883) and the posthumous Graphic Pictures (1891), this exhibition seeks to illuminate the carefree jovial tone of Caldecott's work and provide a glimpse of the man behind the illustrations.
The works showcased in this exhibition are designed in a manner similar to a diary or travel journal and are supplemented with Caldecott's own written excerpts. This technique offers viewers a chance to participate in the thought process that Caldecott went through while creating his illustrations.
Much of the work in this exhibition served as a reflection of the life and style of the English middle- and upper-middle class in the Victorian era. He notably depicted individuals, many of which were well-known acquaintances, as they went about their daily activities. Caldecott also displayed his passion for hunting and sport as well as for his hometown of Chester, England, of which the landscape and countryside he frequently illustrated.
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