Richard Doyle 1824-1883

Fairy tale subjects and other representations of mythical and supernatural creatures had become increasingly popular amongst British artists since the 1830's and 1840's, particularly following the publication of the writings of the Brothers Grimm.  Richard Doyle first attempted this type of subject matter with a series of illustrations to Grimm's The Fairy Ring which he drew in 1846.  He later illustrated many volumes of fairy stories which remained in print for decades.  In 1870 the publisher Longman, Green & Co produced a volume of Doyle's own invented fairy subjects which was entitled In Fairyland.  According to Lionel Lambourne, this book 'must be considered Richard Doyle's masterpiece, and...reveals his secret fairy world at its most enchanting.' (Richard Doyle and his Family, exhibition catalogue, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, p.48).

Richard Doyle's drawings came before a new and wider public at the Grosvenor Gallery, established in New Bond Street by Sir Coutts Lindsay in 1877.  Doyle was represented by groups of works in the Grosvenor Summer exhibition each year until his death, and amongst these were a number of his most fanciful inventions.  This exposure caused Doyle's popularity to be perpetuated in the years after his death