A superb archive of 44 original pencil and ink preparatory drawings by Charles Bennett (1828-1867) for his landmark edition of Pilgrim's Progress issued by Longman of London in 1860.
While there had been many previous illustrated editions of Pilgrim's Progress, Bennett's new and evocative suite of illustrations signaled an important shift in the way 19th century readers engaged Bunyan's immortal tale.
Bennett had something of an obsession with the work. He was so intent on illustrating Pilgrim’s Progress he created the drawings even in advance of having a publisher. Once complete he attempted to pitch them to every publisher in London. They were deemed of "such a different character" from all prior editions as to be unusable. In frustration, Bennett appealed to his long-time friend, Charles Kingsley. Kingsley apparently “got it” and offered the prestige of his name as guarantee to the publishers, promising to write a preface to their edition. Kingsley's name almost immediately secured Longmans & Co. as publishers. Mrs. Kingsley would later describe Bennett as "a man of genius."
The distinctive feature of the illustrations lay in how Bennett visualized Bunyan's allegorical characters. He represents the figures as types by deploying the visual language of physiognomy so that the characters' facial features denote their particular vices and virtues. The practice was similar to that of phrenology, then all the rage in America. This pseudo-scientific code, first formulated by Lavater, was familiar to the mid-Victorian audience, and Bennett is careful to recreate the signs that were classified in popular books explaining the language and how to judge personality from a person's appearance.
A truly wonderful grouping of 44 studies, in varying states of completion. The drawings preparative for:
[Charles Bennett, Illustrator]. Bunyan, John. Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress with Illustrations by Charles Bennett and a Preface by Charles Kingsley. London. Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts. 1860.
44 pencil illustrations, neatly mounted in an archival, late century Italian leather album. The album with some light discoloration. All drawings neatly corner mounted, two slightly askew.
