John Tenniel (1820-1914)

John Tenniel was an English illustrator and caricaturist. He was principal political cartoonist for 'Punch' magazine and is probably most well known for his 92 illustrations to 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There' written by Lewis Carroll. He also produced illustrations for works by Shirley Brooks, Edgar Allen Poe and Martin Farquhar Tupper among others. Tenniel was knighted in 1893 and was the first illustrator or cartoonist to receive the honour. 

"My time is so completely occupied that I am forced to

decline commissions in all directions"

In this short letter to Sampson Low written in January 1872, Tenniel regretfully declines work requested by the publisher, explaining that he is too busy to take on any new commissions at present. 

View John Tenniel's letter [opens in a new window]

Image Rights: © National Portrait Gallery London by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company albumen carte-de-visite late 1860s-early 1870s https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/