 | This 1869 illustration (from the collection of Betsy Beinecke Shirley, which forms the basis of Drawn To Enchant) suggests the shift from formal, instructive illustrations to more spirited ones. The painting, by Justin H. Howard, goes with a rhyming story titled The Doings of the Alphabet. Most of the well-dressed children (good girls, it seems) are politely observing a set of alphabet blocks. Meanwhile, in the background, a few children (mischievous boys) auger the future of illustration, by expressing more interest in climbing a tree and disrupting the banner and blocks. | |
By Justin H. Howard for Doings of the Alphabet (New York: McLoughlin Bros., c. 1869). All images featured are from Drawn To Enchant: Original Children's Book Art in the Betsy Beinecke Shirley Collection, distributed by Yale University Press for the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library © 2007 Yale University. |
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