THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
E D WAR D AR D IZZO N E Edward Ardizzone, CBE RA RDI (1900-1979) Highly observant and immensely humane, the work of Edward Ardizzone is in direct descent from the finest French and English illustrators of the nineteenth century. Developing as an artist from 1930, Ardizzone made his name as an illustrator through his contributions to The Radio Times and then with Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain, which proved to be one of the most significant picture books published between the wars. Soon considered one of the greatest illustrators of his generation, he also gained a reputation as a distinguished Official War Artist, through his record in word and image of action in Europe and North Africa. Versatile and productive, he produced paintings, sculptures, etchings and lithographs, and worked as a designer.
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For a biography of Edward Ardizzone, please refer to The Illustrators, 2007, page 313; for an essay on Ardizzone’s illustrations to Cyril Ray’s Merry England, see The Illustrators, 1999, pages 193-195. Key works written and illustrated: Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain (1936); Tim All Alone (1956) Key works illustrated: Contributed to The Radio Times (from 1932) and The Strand Magazine (from 1942); H E Bates, My Uncle Silas (1939); Poems of François Villon (1946); Walter de la Mare, Peacock Pie (1946); Anthony Trollope, The Warden (1952) and Barchester Towers (1953); William Thackeray, The Newcomes (1954); Eleanor Farjeon, The Little Bookroom (1955); Cervantes, Exploits of Don Quixote (1959) His work is represented in numerous public collections, including the British Museum, the Imperial War Museums, Tate and the V&A; and the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford). Further reading: Brian Alderson, Edward Ardizzone: A Bibliographic Commentary, Pinner: Private Libraries Association, in association with the British Library and Oak Knoll Press, 2003; Dr Nicholas Ardizzone, Edward Ardizzone’s World. The Etchings and Lithographs, London: Unicorn Press/Wolseley Fine Arts, 2000; Gabriel White, Edward Ardizzone, London: Bodley Head, 1979
226 TAKING A REST pen ink and watercolour 7 x 9 3⁄4 inches