Figure 1.--This drawing shows some of the destinctive English boys' styles of the late 19th century. The older boy wears an Eton collar, knickers, and suspenders (braces). (In America he probably would have wore kneepants.) The younger boy wears a tunic suit. White dresses with blue sashes and bows were still popular for girls. |
While often associated with 19th century costumes, Grahame Johnstone sisters in fact drew children in a wide range of period costuming. Their favorite period appears to be the early 19th century, especially for boys clothing. The tunics, skeleton suits, and peaked caps worn during this period often appear in their drawings. The Grahame drawings do not, however, exclusively draw from this period. We also note notes clothes based on kilts, sailor suits, Fauntleroy suits, white socks, stripped stockings, and other fashions from the mid-19th century as well. We note far fewer 20th century garments like short pants. While the 19th century was definitely their, or perhaps Anne's favorite era, the Grahame Johnstone drawings cover virutally every historical epoc. Their Biblical drawings take us back to the early Hebrews. There are many drawings from classical antiquity illustrating the sagas of Greece and Rome. Fairy tale illustrations cober the medeveal and Renaissace eras. The Cavaleers and round heads of the English Civil War are also covered. Of course, for the most part the era illustarted was governed by the period of the books illustrated. Even so, the sisters did not accept every commission offerded and many of the books chosden were onces that particularly appeled to them.
While the 19th century was definitely their, or perhaps Anne's favorite era, the Grahame Johnstone drawings cover virutally every historical epoc. Their Biblical drawings take us back to the early Hebrews.
There are many drawings from classical antiquity illustrating the sagas of Greece and Rome. They provided some refreshingly priginal drawings of the often told classical sagas. I'm not sure ahow accurate the clothing depicted is or even how accurate te sisters tried to be with it. But there views of ancient Greece and Rome are a delight.
Fairy tale illustrations cover the medeveal and Renaissace eras. The Cavaleers and round heads of the English Civil War are also covered.
While often associated with 19th century costumes, Grahame Johnstone sisters in fact drew children in a wide range of period costuming. Their favorite period appears to be the early 19th century, especially for boys clothing. The tunics, skeleton suits, and peaked caps worn during this period often appear in their drawings. The Grahame drawings do not, however, exclusively draw from this period. We also note notes clothes based on kilts, sailor suits, Fauntleroy suits, white socks, stripped stockings, and other fashions from the mid-19th century as well.
We note far fewer 20th century drawings, but this was not a period that the sisters totally avoided. We are not sure if the smaller number of 20th century drawinfs reflects a lack of interest or a lack of suitable commissions. There were some 20th century drawings, some even with relatively modern clothing. While fewer, there are 20th century illustrations with destinctive harments like short pants and jeans. Generally speaking, their 20th century illustrations are those required by the modern setting of a book that they illustrated. These drawings are generally done more realistically with less flare and whimsey that aew notable in the 19th century drawings.
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