Alexander Fussell or Fussel (c. 1814 – 1881) was an English artist and illustrator. He drew the bird illustrations for William Yarrell's 1843 History of British Birds.
"A. Fussel" signature on drawing in William Yarrell's influential History of British Birds, 1843. (Enlarged detail, lower left of Snowy Owl)Snowy Owl: one of about 500 drawings by Fussell for Yarrell's Birds"Sclavack Peasants" from John Paget's Hungary and Transylvania, John Murray, London, 1839. Original drawing by Mr Hering. Transferred to wood by Alexander Fussel. Engraved by Orrin Smith.
Life and careeredit
Fussell painted in various media, including watercolour, gouache, and oil on canvas. His subjects included The prize calf, The park sweeper, Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman, and The letter, after Thomas Faed.[1]
Fussell undertook the large task of illustrating William Yarrell's 1843 History of British Birds. Yarrell states that Fussell drew "nearly five hundred" of the 520 wood-engravings mentioned on the book's title-page. The work began in 1837 and continued for six years, Yarrell publishing at the rate of one instalment, containing three sheets, every two months. Many of the drawings were from skins or stuffed specimens, though every bird species is illustrated with a lifelike drawing of the bird standing (or rarely, flying or swimming) in a natural setting. Additional drawings depict nests, feathers, and details of bird anatomy including feet, breastbones, and windpipes.[2] The work was hugely influential.[3]
According to The New York Times of 1888, Fussell contributed to the illustration of another famous book, Isaac Walton's Compleat Angler, the fourth edition published by John Major in London in 1844. Paintings of fish by Abraham Cooper and W. Smith were transferred manually to the woodblocks before cutting. Fussell did the drawings, which were then wood-engraved by John Jackson and Mason Jackson.[4]
Fussell "transferred Mr. Hering's sketches to the wood" for John Paget's 1839 Hungary and Transylvania, a book with "numerous illustrations" (47 are listed) of buildings, landscapes, curiosities and peasants.[5]
^ abYarrell, William (1843). A History of British Birds: Preface. London: John Van Voorst. pp. v–xii.
^Holloway, Simon (1996). The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875–1900. London: T & AD Poyser. ISBN0-85661-094-1.
^Gamut, David (24 June 1888). "Books on Angling" (PDF). The New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
^ abPaget, John (1850). Hungary and Transylvania; with remarks on their condition, social, political, and economical (A new ed.). John Murray. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
alexander, fussell, fussel, 1814, 1881, english, artist, illustrator, drew, bird, illustrations, william, yarrell, 1843, history, british, birds, fussel, signature, drawing, william, yarrell, influential, history, british, birds, 1843, enlarged, detail, lower,. Alexander Fussell or Fussel c 1814 1881 was an English artist and illustrator He drew the bird illustrations for William Yarrell s 1843 History of British Birds A Fussel signature on drawing in William Yarrell s influential History of British Birds 1843 Enlarged detail lower left of Snowy Owl Snowy Owl one of about 500 drawings by Fussell for Yarrell s Birds Sclavack Peasants from John Paget s Hungary and Transylvania John Murray London 1839 Original drawing by Mr Hering Transferred to wood by Alexander Fussel Engraved by Orrin Smith Life and career editFussell painted in various media including watercolour gouache and oil on canvas His subjects included The prize calf The park sweeper Uncle Toby and the Widow Wadman and The letter after Thomas Faed 1 Fussell undertook the large task of illustrating William Yarrell s 1843 History of British Birds Yarrell states that Fussell drew nearly five hundred of the 520 wood engravings mentioned on the book s title page The work began in 1837 and continued for six years Yarrell publishing at the rate of one instalment containing three sheets every two months Many of the drawings were from skins or stuffed specimens though every bird species is illustrated with a lifelike drawing of the bird standing or rarely flying or swimming in a natural setting Additional drawings depict nests feathers and details of bird anatomy including feet breastbones and windpipes 2 The work was hugely influential 3 According to The New York Times of 1888 Fussell contributed to the illustration of another famous book Isaac Walton s Compleat Angler the fourth edition published by John Major in London in 1844 Paintings of fish by Abraham Cooper and W Smith were transferred manually to the woodblocks before cutting Fussell did the drawings which were then wood engraved by John Jackson and Mason Jackson 4 Fussell transferred Mr Hering s sketches to the wood for John Paget s 1839 Hungary and Transylvania a book with numerous illustrations 47 are listed of buildings landscapes curiosities and peasants 5 Works editYarrell William History of British Birds nearly 500 drawings 1843 2 Uncle Toby and the widow Wadman 1857 6 illustrating a scene from Laurence Sterne s Tristram Shandy Paget John Hungary and Transylvania with remarks on their condition social political and economical John Murray 1839 5 References edit ArtInfo Retrieved 22 January 2013 a b Yarrell William 1843 A History of British Birds Preface London John Van Voorst pp v xii Holloway Simon 1996 The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875 1900 London T amp AD Poyser ISBN 0 85661 094 1 Gamut David 24 June 1888 Books on Angling PDF The New York Times Retrieved 23 January 2013 a b Paget John 1850 Hungary and Transylvania with remarks on their condition social political and economical A new ed John Murray Retrieved 24 January 2013 Artnet Alexander Fussell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Fussell amp oldid 1183129806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
