Frederick Simpson Coburn's Illustrations for the Poetry of Dr. W.H. Drummond

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Frederick Simpson Coburn's Illustrations for the Poetry of Dr. W.H. Drummond
Abstract
The Eastern Townships artists Frederick Simpson Coburn (1871-1960), primarily known as a painter of Canadian winter scenes, spent the majority of his formative years illustrating books and periodicals, from about 1890 until 1916. This important period corresponds to the years Coburn resided in Europe, where he studied in such major centres as Berlin, Munich, London, Paris and Antwerp. The reputation Coburn enjoyed as an illustrator was rapidly established in 1897 with the highly successful illustrated publication of the Canadian poet, Dr. William Henry Drummond's (1854-1907) The Habitant. The author focusses on Coburn's close relationship with Drummond, witnessed throughout the production of the five volumes of poetry, and how they contributed to each other's success. Coburn, for the most part, executed his Drummond illustrations from abroad, in an international context, which often resulted in a very painterly handling and contemplative interpretation of the material. The poetry, on the other hand, remains essentially Canadian. Through Drumnond, Coburn made contact with the publishing firm of G.P. Putnam's Sons in New York who assumed responsibility for Coburn's successive illustration commissions which included selections from the works of Washington Irving, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning and Oliver Goldsmith. Although Coburn enjoyed a lucrative career as an illustrator, his attitude towards the domain was consistently that of a painter. Thus, the author notes, Coburn's illustration work must be considered important not only as an integral part of his academic formation, but also as a determining factor in the transition to his later painting.
Type
Master's Thesis
University
Concordia University
Place
Montreal
Date
1985
# of Pages
viii-368-[39] p.
Language
en
URL
Citation
Kennell, Elizabeth Hamilton. “Frederick Simpson Coburn’s Illustrations for the Poetry of Dr. W.H. Drummond.” Master’s Thesis, Concordia University, 1985. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/thesescanada/vol2/QMG/TC-QMG-5703.pdf.
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