Caricature of James Ludovic Lindsay
Date
1908
Sitter
James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres (1847 - 1913, British) , Astronomer, Astronomer
Creator
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851 - 1922, British) , Artist
Creator - Organisation
Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, Lithographer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 380mm
width (print): 263mm
width (print): 263mm
Subject
Description
Caricature of James Ludovic Lindsay at full length, inclined to the right as viewed, holding a lit cigarette.
Inscribed in the bottom left corner of the print: ‘Spy’
Inscribed above: ‘VANITY FAIR Supplement’
Inscribed below: ‘Hentschel-Colourtype, London./ “The Transit of Venus”/ (Earl of Crawford)’
This caricature is titled ‘The Transit of Venus and was number 1130 of the ‘Men of the Day’ series published in Vanity Fair between 1868-1913.
The associated text begins: ‘The 26th Earl of Crawford (created in 1398) bears the name of James Ludovic Lindsay, and is head of the house of Lindsay. The Lindsays, it is said, were Baron Lindsays of Crawford before 1143. The mere name transports one at once into the realms of romance. One thinks of the "stern Lindsays" of Walter Scott, and pictures a burly baron with enormous jaws and fists, iron-handed and wooden-headed. And lo, here is the 26th Earl, a dandy in his way, of most distinguished favour, and very absolute grace, a President at one time of the Astronomical Society, President still of the Camden Society and a Trustee of the British Museum: a scientist and thinker besides, who follows stars swimming across his lenses and questions evolutionary theories as doubtful half-guesses […]’
James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Early of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres (1847-1913), British astronomer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1878.
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851-1922), British artist who did much of his work under the pseudonym ‘Spy’ and served as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair between 1873-1911.
Inscribed in the bottom left corner of the print: ‘Spy’
Inscribed above: ‘VANITY FAIR Supplement’
Inscribed below: ‘Hentschel-Colourtype, London./ “The Transit of Venus”/ (Earl of Crawford)’
This caricature is titled ‘The Transit of Venus and was number 1130 of the ‘Men of the Day’ series published in Vanity Fair between 1868-1913.
The associated text begins: ‘The 26th Earl of Crawford (created in 1398) bears the name of James Ludovic Lindsay, and is head of the house of Lindsay. The Lindsays, it is said, were Baron Lindsays of Crawford before 1143. The mere name transports one at once into the realms of romance. One thinks of the "stern Lindsays" of Walter Scott, and pictures a burly baron with enormous jaws and fists, iron-handed and wooden-headed. And lo, here is the 26th Earl, a dandy in his way, of most distinguished favour, and very absolute grace, a President at one time of the Astronomical Society, President still of the Camden Society and a Trustee of the British Museum: a scientist and thinker besides, who follows stars swimming across his lenses and questions evolutionary theories as doubtful half-guesses […]’
James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Early of Crawford and 9th Earl of Balcarres (1847-1913), British astronomer, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1878.
Sir Leslie Matthew Ward (1851-1922), British artist who did much of his work under the pseudonym ‘Spy’ and served as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair between 1873-1911.
Object history
Vanity Fair ’s ‘Men of the Day’ series, which featured a full page, colour caricature of a significant public figure and text commentary, largely written by "Jehu Junior", was a popular feature that ran between 1868 and 1913.
This print was purchased by the Royal Society in 1999.
This print was purchased by the Royal Society in 1999.