CELEBRATING SEARLE

I can never resist the opportunity to blog about the great Ronald Searle, my cartoon hero who is the subject of a new selling exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery Ronald Searle Remembered containing over 370 items of artwork, letters and books.

Among the pieces over which I have lusted (my bank manager having forbidden me from doing anything other than lusting!) is this wonderfully vibrant cover for the humorous magazine, Punch (19 march 1958), reflecting the journal's tradition of incorporating the characters of Mr Punch and his dog Toby into the cover designs...

And this preliminary design for the 23 July 1958 edition of Punch, entitled 'All Present and Correct'...

Here's what the published versions looked like – the first being decidedly less colourful than the original...

The Chris Beetles gallery exhibition also features several examples of Searle's original artwork made for advertisements for Lemon Hart and Lamb's Navy Rum...

Two splendid Christmas cards...

And a superbly sinister St Trinian's cartoon from Lilliput magazine, January 1951...

 Go on, say it – "I resolve to leave my body to science."

The exhibition continues until 9 June; you can view the exhibits on-line here and there is a 200 page catalogue, price £20.

Chris Beetles Gallery, 8 & 10 Ryder Street, St James's, London, SW1Y 6QB
Telephone: 020 7839 7551
Opening times: Monday-Saturday 10:00-17:30

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I have only just noticed that, ten days ago, I missed marking the sixth birthday of this blog! Reading, now, what I wrote in that very first post just makes me smile!