Caldecott, Randolph

born March 22, 1846, Chester, Cheshire, Eng.

died Feb. 12, 1886, St. Augustine, Fla., U.S.

British graphic artist and watercolourist.

While working as a bank clerk, he began drawing for periodicals such as London Society, and, after he moved to London, Punch and Graphic. He developed a gently satirical style and achieved success with illustrations for Washington Irving's books The Sketch Book (1875) and Bracebridge Hall (1876). Caldecott is best known as an illustrator of children's books, including William Cowper's John Gilpin (1878) and Oliver Goldsmith's Elegy on a Mad Dog (1879). Always frail in health, he died at age 39 in Florida, where he had gone to improve his condition. Since 1938 the Caldecott Medal has been awarded annually to the illustrator of the most distinguished U.S. picture book for children.

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▪ British artist

born March 22, 1846, Chester, Cheshire, Eng.

died Feb. 12, 1886, St. Augustine, Fla., U.S.

      English artist chiefly known for the gently satirical drawings and coloured book illustrations that won him great popularity.

      While a bank clerk at Whitchurch, Shropshire, and at Manchester, Caldecott began drawing for local magazines. Through his acquaintance with George Du Maurier he began contributing to the periodical London Society in 1871; the next year he settled in London and turned professional, ultimately drawing for Punch and Graphic, among other periodicals. He increased his skill by painting under Sir Edward Poynter and by sketching and modelling in the studio of J. Dalou.

      In 1872 he went with his lifelong friend Henry Blackburn to Germany. His drawings for Blackburn's book, The Harz Mountains, fix Caldecott's style in the tradition of Richard Doyle—moderate in distortion and affably satirical. He also illustrated Washington Irving's Sketch Book (1875) and Bracebridge Hall (1876). These more sophisticated drawings were close to those of Du Maurier and W.P. Frith, though with an original sense of caricature, and they established Caldecott's reputation. His coloured picture books for children included W. Cowper's John Gilpin (1878), Oliver Goldsmith's Elegy on a Mad Dog (1879) and The Great Panjandrum Himself (1885). His works in other media include paintings, metal reliefs, and terra-cottas.

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