Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16912, John Leech watercolors, Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased from Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers by the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on 18 September 2024.

Biographical Note

John Leech ( 1817–1864 ) was an English caricaturist known for his contributions to Punch the weekly humor and satire magazine, as well as the first illustrator of Charles Dickens ' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol . Leech was born in London in 1817, the son of the landlord of the London Coffee House on Ludgate Hill. He studied at Charterhouse School, where he met his life-long friend, the novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray. He continued his studies of medicine, at the age of sixteen, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, before leaving his studies to pursue an artistic profession. His first publication was 'Etchings and Sketchings, By A Pen, Esq.' (1835) and he joined Punch in 1841, regularly contributing to the magazine until his death. His illustrations included political cartoons, social caricature, scenes of everyday life and sporting works. Aside from Punch, he contributed to many other illustrated periodicals including The New Monthly Magazine , T he Illuminated Magazine , The Illustrated London News and The Field . He died at the age of forty-seven in London.

Resources

"Leech, John." Benezit Dictionary of Artist s. 31 Oct. 2011; Accessed 11 Jul. 2025. https://www.oxfordartonline.com/benezit/view/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.001.0001/acref-9780199773787-e-00106434.

"John Leech." Encyclopedia Britannica , revised March 21, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Leech.

"John Leech." Lambiek Comiclopedia . Lambiek, revised October 6, 2024. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/leech_john.htm.

Content Description

This collection contains eight original pen, ink, and watercolor sketches with initials by the English caricaturist John Leech (1816-1864). Illustrated roughly around 1840, each illustration depicts his observations of daily British life of the lower and middle classes: on the street, in taverns, and at home. All contain captions related to the image, and some have titles in addition to their caption. These titles include "A Speculation," "On the Boulevards," "A Toothless Trio," "A Learned Trio," and "The Moustache Movement."

Related Material

Leech's caricatures relate to the Lea Iselin Collection of Humor at the University of Virginia.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• England -- History
• Illustrators
• cartoons (humorous images)
• drawings (visual works)