Lewis Carroll's Artistic Eye

John Tenniel’s illustrations for both Alice books are almost inseparable from the text, but less well appreciated is the partnership between artist and author that brought them into creation. Charles L. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) was not only the writer but also the man who commissioned Tenniel to draw the pictures and eventually paid for them. Dodgson chose the subjects, the sizes and shapes of the illustrations, and where they would fit within his text. Tenniel’s skilful draughtsmanship was guided by Dodgson’s artistic eye. Dodgson adopted the same approach with his other four main illustrators; Henry Holiday (Snark), Arthur B. Frost (Rhyme? And Reason? and A Tangled Tale), Harry Furniss (Sylvie and Bruno books), and E. Gertrude Thomson (Three Sunsets). In all cases, Dodgson as commissioner and purchaser of the illustrations exercised the main role. He knew what illustrations were needed for his text, and he shared his artistic imagination with his artists using their skill and experience as book illustrators to satisfy his requirements. This paper explores Dodgson’s own artistic skills, and his productive, although sometimes strained, relationships with his illustrators.