Gustave Doré
On the 6th of January 1832, Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré was born in Strasbourg. At age fifteen, he began working as a caricaturist for Le journal pour rire. His early illustrations drew heavy influence from J. J. Grandville. The style of Grandville shaped how young Doré approached his own drawings. He created several text comics during the late 1840s and early 1850s. Les Travaux d'Hercule appeared in 1847. Trois artistes incompris et mécontents followed in 1851. These works established him as a professional artist before he turned to book illustration.
In 1853, publishers asked Doré to illustrate the works of Lord Byron. This commission opened doors to British publishers who wanted new illustrated Bibles. He produced 12 folio-size illustrations of The Legend of The Wandering Jew in 1856. That work propagated antisemitic views common at the time. During the 1860s, he illustrated a French edition of Cervantes's Don Quixote. His depictions of Sancho Panza became so famous they influenced stage directors. In 1883, Harper & Brothers paid him 30,000 francs for an oversized edition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven. He was working on Shakespeare plays when he died.
Blanchard Jerrold suggested that Doré create a comprehensive portrait of London in 1869. They signed a five-year contract with Grant & Co. Publishers. Doré received £10,000 a year to stay in London three months annually. The completed book London: A Pilgrimage appeared in 1872. It contained 180 wood engravings showing scenes from the city. Some British critics disliked the focus on poverty. The Art Journal accused him of inventing rather than copying reality. Vincent van Gogh later painted a version of the Prisoners' Round scene in 1890. Despite criticism, the book achieved commercial success and earned commissions from other publishers.
Doré created over 10,000 illustrations during his lifetime. Most important works were copied using an electrotype process. Cylinder presses allowed very large print runs to be published simultaneously. At the height of his career, some 40 block-cutters worked for him. These men cut his drawings onto wooden printing blocks. They usually signed the image themselves. This collaborative workshop system enabled mass production across many countries. The method ensured his images reached audiences far beyond France. His role remained that of designer while others executed the physical cuts.
Contemporary art critics gave Doré mixed reviews throughout his life. The general public adored his work however. Writers like Théophile Gautier felt he brought their wildest dreams to life. Gautier stated nobody better could give mysterious vitality to chimeras or nightmares. H.P. Lovecraft drew inspiration from Doré's Rime of the Ancient Mariner illustrations. The government of France made him a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1861. His Bible illustrations from 1866 became a great success. A major exhibition opened in London in 1867 leading to the Doré Gallery on Bond Street.
Doré died of a heart attack in Paris on the 23rd of January 1883. He never married and lived with his mother after his father passed away in 1849. His work has been more widely celebrated since his death. Vincent van Gogh painted a version of Prisoners' Round in 1890. Modern appreciation includes influences on contemporary graphic novels. Watercolor paintings by Doré were bequeathed to the museum of Grenoble in 1880. He developed expertise as a watercolorist during a trip to Scotland in 1873. The medical doctor Jean-Baptiste Fuzier donated these works to the museum.
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Common questions
When was Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré born and where?
Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré was born on the 6th of January 1832 in Strasbourg. He began working as a caricaturist for Le journal pour rire at age fifteen.
What major book did Gustave Doré illustrate with Blanchard Jerrold in 1872?
Gustave Doré illustrated London: A Pilgrimage which appeared in 1872 after signing a five-year contract with Grant & Co. Publishers. The book contained 180 wood engravings showing scenes from the city.
How many illustrations did Gustave Doré create during his lifetime?
Gustave Doré created over 10,000 illustrations during his lifetime using an electrotype process. Cylinder presses allowed very large print runs to be published simultaneously while block-cutters executed the physical cuts.
Why did Vincent van Gogh paint a version of Prisoners' Round in 1890?
Vincent van Gogh painted a version of the Prisoners' Round scene in 1890 based on Gustave Doré's work. This painting occurred after some British critics accused Doré of inventing rather than copying reality in London: A Pilgrimage.
When did Gustave Doré die and what was his marital status?
Gustave Doré died of a heart attack in Paris on the 23rd of January 1883. He never married and lived with his mother after his father passed away in 1849.