The Caterpillar - Sir John Tenniel - Framed art Print

John Tenniel (1820 – 1914), the Victorian artist well known for his vivid illustrations in Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) and 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There' (1871), had a fascinatingly diverse artistic journey. Besides his world-famous 'Alice' series, Tenniel was known for his insightful political cartoons for the satirical magazine Punch, significantly enhancing the reputation of cartoonists. His fascinating work also included commissions for what was then known as the South Kensington Museum, now the V&A.

He studied at journey at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, refining his skills by faithfully replicating sculptures, illustrations, and live performance scenes. He had a great talent for capturing movement and apparently had a photographic memory, which helped him in caricaturing familiar faces.

Tenniel often drew inspiration from real-life and theatrical performances. He caught the attention of Lewis Carroll with his detailed caricatures for Punch. Despite Carroll's sparse descriptions, Tenniel brought his characters to life by drawing on many sources, including fine art, natural history, and his previous work. His intricate illustrations were engraved into into woodblocks and electrotype copies made for the publisher Macmillan. They became globally recognised. By the time Tenniel retired in 1901, he had produced over 2,000 cartoons for Punch.His legacy in illustration and satire continues to inspire and amuse.