The Life and Art of Phil May
Born in Wortley, near Leeds, Philip William May was an English caricaturist who played a significant role in transitioning Victorian illustration toward the modern humorous cartoon. His early life was marked by various occupations, including working as a time-keeper at a foundry and attempting to become a jockey. As a youth in Leeds, he sketched actors' portraits in the Grand Theatre, earning small fees for his work. After a period of hardship in London, where he slept in parks and streets, he found employment as a designer to a theatrical costumier and drew posters and cartoons.
Between 1886 and 1889, May lived in Australia, where he was attached to The Bulletin. During these three years, he produced approximately 800 drawings for the publication, including the 1886 illustration “The Mongolian Octopus.” Upon returning to Europe, he worked in Paris and Rome before returning to London in 1892. He became famous for his studies of the London guttersnipe and the coster-girl, and he eventually became a regular member of the staff at Punch and The Graphic.
Technique and Legacy
May was characterized by an extraordinary economy of line, a technique that involved a laborious process of preliminary sketches and a careful system of elimination. This simplified style was a major influence on 20th-century cartoon drawing. His work has been preserved in various collections, including:
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- The British Museum
- Leeds Art Gallery
His artistic output included several publications, such as Phil May's Sketch Book (1895), Phil May's Guttersnipes (1896), and Phil May's Album (1899). He died from tuberculosis in 1903 at his home in St John's Wood, London.
Vraag en antwoord
Waar en wanneer is Phil May geboren?
Phil May werd geboren in Wortley in 1864.
Waar kan ik statistieken vinden over de werken van Phil May?
Statistieken over de werken van Phil May zijn te vinden op de Statistieken-pagina van de kunstenaar.
In welke stad en welk land is Phil May geboren?
Phil May werd geboren in Wortley, in United Kingdom.
In welke perioden is de carrière van Phil May onderverdeeld?
Een chronologisch overzicht van het werk van Phil May is te vinden op de Loopbaanoverzicht pagina van de kunstenaar, waar de kunstwerken hoofdstuk voor hoofdstuk in volgorde van creatie worden gepresenteerd.
