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Master of English Caricature
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The Illustrators 2018
Chris Beetles Gallery in London has their annual show which usually features a selection of Searle originals. Check out this year's batch here
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HAND PAINTED PLATE SIGNED WITH INITIALS ON REVERSE
6 1/2 INCHES CIRCULAR
PROVENANCE: GIVEN BY RONALD SEARLE TO FRANK BRADBURN
6 1/2 INCHES CIRCULAR
PROVENANCE: GIVEN BY RONALD SEARLE TO FRANK BRADBURN
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Brexit!
I don't know what Searle would've made of Brexit (he lived in France the latter half of his life) but here's a picture celebrating the United Kingdom on the weekend where a million marched to remain in the EU.
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Dummy Copies
MANUSCRIPT. - Ronald SEARLE (illustrator) and Geoffrey WILLANS. Down With Skool! [N.p.: n.d. but circa 1953]. 98pp. original typed manuscript, loose leaf (257 x 198mm.) containing original Ronald Searle drawings in ink on approximately two thirds of the manuscript pages. (Red crayon cancel lines through all the leaves, browning, corner creases.) Tie-bound to top corner. Note: 'Down With Skool' is the first of the four 'Nigel Molesworth' novels that Searle illustrated for Geoffrey Willans. - And a further book by Ronald Searle and 'Timothy Shy' (a 'dummy' copy of 'The Terror of St. Trinians', 1952, 8vo) (2).
Publisher’s ‘dummy’ copy of The Terror of St Trinian’s, Ronald Searle’s first joint effort with Timothy Shy, aka D B Wyndham Lewis. Every illustration and printed text carefully pasted into place, complete with handwritten corrections and comments
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Correspondence
Illustrated Autograph Letter Signed, to Irving, thanking him for the Eliot cutting and hoping to visit, joking that they were going to send a dove out to look for him instead of dry land. With a large illustration of a man holding a balloon. 1 page, single large 8vo sheet; mat burn. London, 27 September 1948
British Artist and Satirical Cartoonist. A.L.S., Ronald, one page, 4to, London, 30th July 1952, to Nicolas Bentley ('Dear Nick') on the printed stationery of Perpetua Limited. Searle informs his correspondent that he didn't fully enjoy a book, commenting 'It's difficult when you dislike almost every character. Still - it was interesting - and well written.' He further informs Bentley that he has to go away until the end of August on a couple of features, 'but meanwhile you could be looking out a drawing which would make an American laugh for £10', explaining, 'The wife of a big New York advertising man (Mr. Henry Bach of Henry Bach Associates!) [Inc. Inc.] wants me to get for her one or two originals of cartoons to hang in their apartment over there. (no commission!) She fell in love with your trotting passenger in the Sedan chair - but we weren't parting with it. So anything like.' In concluding Searle asks 'Did I tell you we are doing the odd book under this firm? Our first on dramatic criticism, critics and such subjects will be out in October and we hope it will sweep the profession! If it doesn't we'll have to give it away with ice creams in the Interval. Any way we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.' VG
Nicolas Bentley (1907-1978) British Author and Illustrator, best known for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines of the 1930s and 1940s.
British Artist and Satirical Cartoonist. A.L.S., Ronald, two pages, 4to, Paris, 21st June 1975, to Nicolas Bentley ('Dear Nick'). Searle states that he was delighted to hear from his friend and remarks 'I don't know a thing about the OMNIBUS film & haven't seen it....So it was marvellous to have a spontaneous reaction like that from you & to know that you didn't consider it a waste of time to have chatted out once and for all some of those thoughts that go round in the head - but are usually kept out of sight. I must confess I hesitated over the idea for a long time because I much prefer to remain a private person. People call it 'secretive'. But it is not. I'm all for cutting out the inessentials & getting some peace & quiet.' Searle continues to refer to his wife's illness and further adds 'By the way - she is a great detective fiction buff. A couple of weeks ago she tracked down a first edition of Trent's Last Case through a second hand bookseller & she asked me to tell you how much she enjoyed Floating Dutchman. Now she is chasing your others as it made her thirst to read more. She combs almost every second hand bookseller's catalogue in GB. Her form of regular treasure hunting.', also commenting on his own work, 'I get tired too easily now. I work more tranquilly now - & the work may be better for it. But noise drives me mad & I am obviously showing signs of wear.' In concluding Searle reflects 'And why didn't they knight you instead of the amateur Lancaster? Shaming I thought, that the only signs of recognition to the profession - apart from Low on his deathbed - in the last 20 years, should be Giles & Osbert. Or do they only read the Daily Express? Pathetic.' A letter of interesting content.
British Artist and Satirical Cartoonist. Vintage signed and inscribed 9 x 7 photograph of Searle seated outdoors in a full length pose alongside another gentleman. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink across a light area of the image, 'To Walter Alford, Souvenir of a pleasant 'Monte Carlo' day in Rome, with best wishes, Ronald Searle' and dated August 1968 in his hand.
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American Gothic
Searle's 'Atlantic City' sketchbook.
Searle's 'Catskills' sketchbook.
Searle's 'Hawaii' sketchbook.
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Grosz
A seminal influence on the young Ronald Searle was the work of George Grosz. Apparently he took a small book of Grosz's work to war when he enlisted. Recently sold at auction: an original drawing given to Searle by the wife of one of his artistic idols George Grosz.
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GEORGE GROSZ (GERMAN 1983-1959)
GEORGE GROSZ (GERMAN 1983-1959)
FEMALE NUDE
Taken from a sketchbook dated 1912/1913, with pencil inscription from the family of the artist to Ronald Searle, pen and ink on paper
The sheet 23cm x 18cm (9in x 7in)
Note: The work is inscribed 'for Ronald Searle, To remember the placing of the Grosz plaque in Berlin on 6 December 1977, from Martin and Peter Grosz and his wife'. It is also inscribed by Ronald Searle to the reverse 'by George Grosz, taken from a sketchbook, dated 1912/1913, by Peter Grosz, Berlin, 7 December 1977, RS.'
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Reindeer
One of Searle's long running 'characters' was the reindeer which he used to great comic effect on multiple occasions. A relative of Searle's similarly pathetic horse motif, the reindeer says everything about the human condition.
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This piece is in the art collection of the British Parliament 'The ancient and rather touching ceremony of proceeding towards Christmas' 2009
More Christmas ephemera here
Young Elizabethan magazine, January 1959
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Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog
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This later cover was used as the basis for this promotional snow globe.
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...and here's a version of the image sans reindeer
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Christmas card design 1992
More Christmas ephemera here
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Searle's Centenary!
Happy new Year! March 3rd, 2020 is the centenary of Ronald Searle's birth. The first institution to celebrate will be the Wilhelm Busch museum in Hanover which houses the Searle Archive.
Details translated from this article.
'From April 18 to July 5, the Museum Wilhelm Busch celebrates the 100th birthday of the English illustrator Ronald Searle, whose artistic legacy the museum preserves as a permanent loan from the Lower Saxony Foundation.
Formative experiences in the Second World War made Searle a traveler and seeker, always curious about the people and what drives them. The so-called "Ronald Searle Archive", located in the museum, is therefore more than "just" an archive: It encompasses the majority of Ronald Searle's eight decades of artistic oeuvre, his collection of historical caricatures, his specialist library and the actual archive with diaries and personal notes, project sketches, specimen copies and correspondence with fellow artists and publishers. It also contains historical artist correspondence such as that of the English cartoonist George Cruikshank (1792-1878).
This complex inventory makes it possible to work out and present a variety of connecting lines between the individual collections. The exhibition draws from the abundance of this archive with the aim of providing visitors with intensive insights into a complex artist's personality along central geographic anchor points from Singapore to England and Germany to Tourtour in France and two themed islands on "Animation" and "Private Life" To tell contemporary history. Access to the museum's online collection gives an insight into the immediate work with Ronald Searle's estate. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with numerous illustrations. It is funded by: Lower Saxony Foundation.
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Details translated from this article.
'From April 18 to July 5, the Museum Wilhelm Busch celebrates the 100th birthday of the English illustrator Ronald Searle, whose artistic legacy the museum preserves as a permanent loan from the Lower Saxony Foundation.
Formative experiences in the Second World War made Searle a traveler and seeker, always curious about the people and what drives them. The so-called "Ronald Searle Archive", located in the museum, is therefore more than "just" an archive: It encompasses the majority of Ronald Searle's eight decades of artistic oeuvre, his collection of historical caricatures, his specialist library and the actual archive with diaries and personal notes, project sketches, specimen copies and correspondence with fellow artists and publishers. It also contains historical artist correspondence such as that of the English cartoonist George Cruikshank (1792-1878).
This complex inventory makes it possible to work out and present a variety of connecting lines between the individual collections. The exhibition draws from the abundance of this archive with the aim of providing visitors with intensive insights into a complex artist's personality along central geographic anchor points from Singapore to England and Germany to Tourtour in France and two themed islands on "Animation" and "Private Life" To tell contemporary history. Access to the museum's online collection gives an insight into the immediate work with Ronald Searle's estate. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with numerous illustrations. It is funded by: Lower Saxony Foundation.
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Searle Centenary
Rizzoli Publishing in NYC recently released a lavish book on iconic travel mag HOLIDAY written by Pamela Fiori. It beautifully reproduces covers and articles from the magazine's hey-day in the 1960s. The magazine used many illustrators but the book highlights three; Hirschfeld, Bemelmans and Searle. Publisher info here and you can preview it here
More on Searle and HOLIDAY here
London-based animator and film-maker Uli Meyer has finished a test sequence for a proposed feature film of Searle and Willans''Molesworth' which he will be pitching at Cartoon Forum. The teaser will go online March 5th.
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Ronald told me that he fully expected to live to 100 and I didn't doubt it as robust as he was in his ninth decade. But after his wife, Monica, passed away he joined her six months later. It was a real honor to know them at both at the end of their lives and hear the stories from lives well-lived. Raise a glass today to a giant of illustration and cartooning - the maestro Ronald Searle.
From Sydney's Daily Telegraph:
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Ronald told me that he fully expected to live to 100 and I didn't doubt it as robust as he was in his ninth decade. But after his wife, Monica, passed away he joined her six months later. It was a real honor to know them at both at the end of their lives and hear the stories from lives well-lived. Raise a glass today to a giant of illustration and cartooning - the maestro Ronald Searle.
From Sydney's Daily Telegraph:
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Punch part 2: French Theatre
Here's a rare edition for Searle fans. 'Le Theatre a Paris' is a limited edition catalogue published by Galerie Martine Gossieaux in Paris. It's release coincided with an exhibition in 2000 of caricatures of Parisian stage actors made between 1954 & 1962. 
The drawings were originally published in British satirical journal Punch as illustrations for the regular Theatrical review column.
Madame Gossieaux tracked down all the contemporary posters for each show & are reproduced opposite the relevant Searle drawing.
The book was published in a limited print run of only 500 copies. It's beautifully produced on thick, fine quality paper but at 90 euros is perhaps only for Searle completists. It's available from Galerie Martine Gossieaux. The gallery specializes in exhibitions of drawings & represents some of the best French dessinateurs including Sempé & André François.
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France...
Burnt out after a dozen years of fierce productivity across several mediums Searle left everything behind in London and fled to Paris. Journalist and author Martin Amis caught up with him in the French capital for this profile of the artist in the Telegraph magazine on 1978. Ronald was by then settled in the south of France with his second wife Monica.
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The article states Searle earned 25,000 pounds annually throughout the fifties (equivalent to 800,000 today) and bought 'a mansion' which must mean the house at 32A Newton Road.
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An Artist's Life
The exhibition 'Ronald Searle: An Artist's Life' was to officially open at the Wilhelm Busch Museum in Hanover last weekend to celebrate the centenary of Searle's birth (March 3). However, due to the Covid-19 lockdown measures I'm not sure if it happened (although Germany does seem to be relaxing lockdown measures).
'The »Ronald Searle Archive« located in the museum is therefore more than »just« an archive: It comprises the majority of Ronald Searle's eight decades of artistic oeuvre, his collection of historical caricatures, his specialist library and the actual archive with diaries and personal notes, project sketches, specimen copies and correspondence with fellow artists and publishers. It also contains historical artist correspondence such as that of the English cartoonist George Cruikshank (1792-1878).
This complex inventory makes it possible to work out and present a variety of connecting lines between the individual collections. The exhibition draws from the abundance of this archive with the aim of providing visitors with intensive insights into a complex artist's personality along central geographic anchor points from Singapore to England and Germany to tour tours in France and two themed islands on »Animation« and »Private Life« To tell contemporary history. Access to the museum's online collection gives an insight into the immediate work with Ronald Searle's estate.'
More info at the museum's website here
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'Por favor sēnor' - Searle in Spain
These were reprinted in Searle's book collection 'Escape from the Amazon!' (1964) with the following pictures also.
'First edition, first impression. Presentation copy from Ronald Searle, inscribed in his distinctive hand on the front free endpaper: "For Wendy with love from Ronnie, Christmas 1964"; also tipped-in is an inscribed Christmas card (1965) from Searle (with integral envelope addressed in his hand). "Wendy" is the actress, dancer, and theatre and film director, Wendy Toye (1917-2010) who had collaborated with Searle on a number of theatre projects.'
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Book dedications
Another in 'How To Be Topp' - Abbott & Holder
'First edition. An inscribed presentation copy, with a large original colour drawing by Ronald Searle. Publisher's original pictorial card covers. Very light rubbing to the cover edges otherwise a fine, bright copy.
Inscribed on the title page in black ink "For / Wendy / with love & / Happy Birthday wishes / - this bit of / backstreet reporting / by two of your / chums! / Mo and Ronnie [underlined]." Beside the inscription Searle has drawn full page illustration of a cigarette smoking Fille de Hambourg in heels and stockings which he has dated underneath 1st May 1969. The recipient is actress, choreographer, stage and film director Wendy Toye, with whom Searle collaborated on several projects.' - Lucius Books
THE RAKE'S PROGRESS
LONDON: PERPETUA 1955 FIRST EDITION
PROVENANCE: SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER FITZWILLIAM BARRINGTON
ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION ON PAGE 9: SELF-PORTRAIT
SIGNED, INSCRIBED 'FOR FITZ, SOME AWFUL WARNINGS ... AS ALWAYS' AND DATED 'CHRISTMAS 1955' - Chris Beetles Gallery
'Paris Sketchbook' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1950
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'The Female Approach' for Jean Effel, 1949
'The Female Approach' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1954
'The St. Trinians Story'for Jean Ellsmoor, 1959
'A Christmas Carol' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1961
'Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1961
'Cats' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1967
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'Take One Toad' for John & Midge Locke, 1969
See more personal drawings from Ronald Searle in the 'Correspondence' section here
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To the beach!
As we all long to get back outside during this pandemic here's three views of the beach by Searle in three wildly different styles.
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Nymolle
Lilliput magazine
Punch magazine 14th August, 1957
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Pachyderms
A sub-species of regular Searle creatures (cats, dogs, reindeer) - the elephant.
Birthday cards
Unused storyboard drawing from "Energetically Yours'
Fortune magazine
'The Love Affair'
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Gamblin' Towns
On his travels around the US for HOLIDAY magazine during the 1960s Searle visited Reno and Las Vegas. He captured an era in these lavish spreads.
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Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany.
Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany.
Original art in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Art Library, OSU, Columbus, Ohio. (Unpublished with original article)
An uncomfortable publicity shot in the Nugget Casino, East Reno, March 1964
Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany.
Original art in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Art Library, OSU, Columbus, Ohio.
Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany.
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Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany. (Unpublished with original article)
Original art in the collection of John Musker.
Original art in the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover, Germany.
Original art in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Art Library, OSU, Columbus, Ohio.
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Travel & Leisure magazine, June 1975
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Searle at 100 finally opens in Hannover!
The exhibition to mark the centenary of Searle's birth (March 3) was supposed to open at the Wilhelm Busch Museum, Hanover in April but was postponed because of the pandemic. It opens this weekend.
'The exhibition draws on the abundance of this archive with the aim of providing visitors with intensive and exciting insights into a complex artistic personality along central geographic anchor points from Singapore to England and Germany to tour tours in France and two themed islands on "Animation" and "Private Life" To tell contemporary history.'
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Searle's America
Finally! a review of the book; the first since its publication five years ago. The media ignored it but Searle fans tell me they love it! It's still available at a bargain price these days.
This video shows how big this hefty tome is- a labor of love! Thanks to Bibliophile Books in the UK.
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