Entance to the Poets Corner, from A Brief Account of Westminster Abbey; Herbert Railton
Railton was a well known 19th century British artist and illustrator, and is one of my favorite pen and ink artists.
His wonderful architectural renderings are a brilliant balance of detail and suggestion. Intricate textural passages can lead directly into areas where the drawing fades into obvious lines on paper; the transitions managed with elegant ease.
I don’t know why but this is very nostalgic. It reminds me of my childhood and some faint memories of countryside. The books I loved as a child; Jack and the Beanstall, Malgudi Days, Tom Sawyer and Adventure, etc. Thanks for sharing this, I certainly liked it 🙂
Thanks for the comment, Betty. I actually feel nostalgic about Railton’s drawings too, but or a different reason. I encountered them in a book on pen drawing when I was fairly young.
Railtons work is staggering. No better lineman ever. I wish there were better prints of his work, so rich, detailed that muvh gets lost in substandard printing . Anyone know where the originals are??? Best repros I’ve found were in Jim Vadenbovouers magazine on ink drawing
I’ve been very disappointed with the quality of Railton drawings posted on the web. There are some very good reproductions in Joseph Pennell’s Pen Drawing and Pen Draughtsmen, which is a terrific book in general.
I don’t know where the originals are; likely in several different collections.
Vadeboncoeur’s collections are always superb.
