Peter Harrington, the fabulous Chelsea-based book dealer, who has been my downfall many a day, currently has for sale some of C. E. Brock’s original watercolours for the 1907 edition of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.(They also have many other wonderful Austen related items:click here to see)
The 13 original signed illustration for the “Pride and Prejudice” were published in 1907 as part of the “Series of English Idylls” books by J. M. Dent & Co. The illustrations Brock created were a full and original revision of his previous illustrations for the edition of “Pride and Prejudice” published by Macmillan in 1895.
A Photograph of C. E. Brock circa 1928, from “The Brocks: A Family of Cambridge Artists and Illustrators” by C. M. Kelly
Charles Edmund Brock, above, was elected as a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in the year following the publication of these illustrations. Seen by some as too impossibly pretty, and presenting, perhaps, a chocolate-box image of Jane Austen’s world, I have a sneaking liking for these illustrations. I will be writing about Brock’s work in detail later in the year. But I thought you might like to see the illustrations currently on sale, and I am very grateful to all at Peter Harringtons, in particular Emilie Fournet, for all their help in developing this article.
The illustrations on sale include, below, Will you do me the honour of reading that letter:
Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XXXV. p. 13.
And these rest of the illustrations are included in this gallery: do click on any of the images to enlarge it.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter VII. p. 29.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter LLVI. p. 96
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- Pride & Prejudice. Page 2. Chapter I.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter LIX. p. 197.
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- Pride & Prejudice. p. 97. Chapter XVIII.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter LII. p. 143.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XXXIX. p. 36.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XIV. p. 67.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XI. p. 54.
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XVI. p. 78
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- Pride & Prejudice. Chapter XLIV. p. 76.
12 comments
February 4, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Raquel Sallaberry Brião
Dear Julie,
an original P&P’s watercolor? May I faint before reading your post? How about you buy one?
I have bought all Jane Austen “Series of English Idylls”. They (the books) are not in very good shape but never mind, They are my beloved together all my Jane’s book.
hugs, raquel
February 4, 2013 at 4:31 pm
jfwakefield
I’m eyeing the original Emma illustrations with some envy…….;)
I’m so glad you enjoyed this post, Raquel :)
February 4, 2013 at 4:44 pm
cathyallen
I went to the Peter Harrington website, watched the slides on the home page for approximately 10 seconds, and I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! So, I completely understand your description of, and love for the place. I also knew that I couldn’t stay there too long…LOL!
I got a kick out of your description, “I have a sneaking liking for these illustrations.” I, too, like them very much, but I like them unabashedly. I only wish I could afford some originals for myself! Thanks for the story, and the links Julie.
February 5, 2013 at 9:28 am
jfwakefield
No, I agree, staying at that website too long leads to bankruptcy :)
February 4, 2013 at 5:38 pm
Tina
Absolutely beautiful!! I confess I have a weak spot for watercolours., and these are are wonderful. And what expressions!!
Thank you Julie!!
February 5, 2013 at 9:27 am
jfwakefield
They are very much of their times,aren’t they? But I like them none the less for that ;)
February 4, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Janeite Deb
Reblogged this on Jane Austen in Vermont and commented:
A big thank you to Julie at Austenonly for blogging about this. And do visit the link to Harrington’s other Austen materials – a treasure-trove for the Austen-collector…
February 4, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Janeite Deb
Just lovey Julie – I have reblogged this post – too imoirtant not to share!
February 5, 2013 at 9:27 am
jfwakefield
Thanks Deb, I appreciate it :)
February 5, 2013 at 3:59 pm
hablandodejane
Reblogged this on Hablando de Jane and commented:
Una auténtica preciosidad!!! A la venta las ilustraciones originales de la Edición de Orgullo y Prejuicio de 1907, realizadas por C.E. Brock. ¡A romper otra vez la hucha!
February 5, 2013 at 4:45 pm
Cinthia
Beautiful! I adore the Brock illustrations, in particular the watercolours from 1907-1909. I could almost start to sing like the fiddler on the roof… “If I were a rich (wo)man…”
When I first saw the 1895 illustrations, I was not enthusiastic, later I discovered why the unappealing first impression, I had seen a not well-done coloured versions of them. Those first were only black and white in ink.
But when I saw the watercolours, I was blown away, I needed to find why they stroke me so diferenttly.
It took me years to collect the complete sets and, at the risk of self-promotion, I even wrote a monography on the Austen novels editions illustrated by both brothers, for Molland’s.
February 11, 2013 at 10:44 am
bibliodeviant
Reblogged this on Shelf Fulfillment.