|
Harold Copping was a prolific illustrator who worked on a wide range of subjects, but is best known for his religious and school illustrations. He was born in England during 1863. He recerived his art training at the Royal Academy School and was able to study in Paris on a Landseer Scholarship. He was perhaps the most popular English illustrator of the late Victorian and Edwardian era. Some of his best known works include illustrations for Hammond's Hard Lines (1894), Miss Bobbie (1897), Millionaire (1898), A Queen Among Girls (1900), Pilgrim's Progress (1903), Westward Ho! (1903), Grace Abounding (1905), Three School Chums (1907), Children's Stories from Dickens (1911), Little Women (1912), Good Wives (1913), A Christmas Carol (1920) and Character Sketches from Boz (1924). Many associate Copping with religious illustrations. Having obtained a commissioned to produce illustrations for the Bible he decided to visit
Palestine, at the time a part of the Ottoman Empire. The resulting work, The Copping Bible (1910), was extremely successful, proving to be a best-seller and more Bible commissions followed. These illustration were extremely influential and in alrge measure craeted the visual images in the minds of several generations of American and Brtish children. Copping also did illustrations for many magazines, including The Leisure Hour, Little Folks, Pearson's Magazine, The Royal Magazine, The Temple Magazine, and the Windsor Magazine. One of his illustrations from Little Folks is pictured here (figure 1). He illustrated many children's books and is especially well known for his drawings books set in English schools at the time.
Harold Copping was born in England during 1863.
He recerived his art training at the Royal Academy School and was able to study in Paris on a Landseer Scholarship.
He was perhaps the most popular English illustrator of the late Victorian and Edwardian era. Some of his best known works include illustrations for Hammond's Hard Lines (1894), Miss Bobbie (1897), Millionaire (1898), A Queen Among Girls (1900), Pilgrim's Progress (1903), Westward Ho! (1903), Grace Abounding (1905), Three School Chums (1907), Children's Stories from Dickens (1911), Little Women (1912), Good Wives (1913), A Christmas Carol (1920) and Character Sketches from Boz (1924). Copping of course also illustrated numerous school stories, includings Boys' of Priory School (19??) and Boys of Wynport School (1922).
Many associate Copping with religious illustrations. Having obtained a commissioned to produce illustrations for the Bible he decided to visit
Palestine, at the time a part of the Ottoman Empire. The resulting work, The Copping Bible (1910), was extremely successful, proving to be a best-seller and more Bible commissions followed. These illustration were extremely influential and in alrge measure craeted the visual images in the minds of several generations of American and Brtish children.
THe best knownof Copping's Bible illustrations was 'The Hope of the World' (1915). This illustration depicts Jesus sitting with a group of children from different races. Ot was produced for the London Missionary Society (1915). It has been described as the most popular depiction of Jesus produced in Britain during the 20th century. It became one of th most iconic image in the Sunday school movement. 【Brewer】 And very important ws his depiction of chilren of all races at a time that real racim was prevalent.
Copping also did illustrations for many magazines, including The Leisure Hour, Little Folks, Pearson's Magazine, The Royal Magazine, The Temple Magazine, and the Windsor Magazine. One of his illustrations from Little Folks is pictured here (figure 1).
Ilustrations of vcurse are very imprtant for children' books. Coppings books are for older cjhildren . The illustrations do not dominate the book, but are interspersed among mostly text pages. While Copping is lagely associated with religious work, he illustrated many other books for children. One of his importat genre were school stories. These were very popular at the time. Here we have a good example of his school lustrations (figure 1). It is intersing that they were so poplar. They were mostly set in private boarding schools known as public schools. But only small pecetage of the British boys atended these schools and an even smaller percentage of girls. Copping and H.M. Brock are probably the most popular artists illustrating these school stories. Their work mosty deicted the schools at the time that they did their illustrations. This they can be taken as an accuate depiction of contemprary schoolwear. While school illustrations are Coppings best known non-relgious illustrations, they are not his only departure from his main focus. We see him illistrating a variety f other books. We note, for example some work on Dickens' books. Here heis deicting cloting styles several decaded emoved from the stioruies depicted. Thus they can not be takn as te same authotity as his school illustrations.
Copping illustrations provide fascinating insights into school wear, at least the uniforms worn at Britain's public (actually exclclusive private) schools. The boys are shown as wearing school caps and Eton suits with knickers or long pants. Senior boys wear more adult looking suits. There are many other interesting insights in Copping's drawings. Most public schools were boarding schools located in rural sites providing extensive grounds for games (sports) and other activities. One illustration from The oys of Wynport College (1922) shows the public school boys with local boys, presumably the sons of agricultural laborers, wearing smocks. I am not sure just what year the book was set in, surely this was not the way boys in rural areas dressed in 1922, but such smocks were apparently common in the 19th century.
Brewer, Sandy. "From darkest England to The Hope of the World: Protestant pedagogy and the visual culture of the London Missionary Society," Material Religion: The Journal of Objects, Art and Belief Volume 1, Number 1 (January 2005), pp. 98–124.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Artist pages:
[Return to the Main English illustrator page]
[Return to the Main individual illustrator page]
[Chronology]
[Countries]
[Individuals]
[Styles]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[About Us]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Girls]
[Theatricals]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
